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St. John's Claims Back-to-Back Big East Titles, UConn Struggles

3/15/2026

26 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

St. John's Red Storm defeated UConn Huskies 72-52 in the Big East final at Madison Square Garden.
The win earned St. John's its second consecutive championship under coach Richard Pitino.
UConn coach Dan Hurley expressed disappointment, citing 17 turnovers and poor shooting.
Silas Demary Jr. suffered a left ankle injury, raising questions about his NCAA Tournament availability.
UConn is expected to receive a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

History

Historical Context

The 1985 NCAA Championship saw Villanova, an eighth seed, upset the heavily favored Georgetown Hoyas, who finished the season with a 35-2 record. This game, held on April 1, marked a significant moment in college basketball history, highlighting the competitive spirit of the Big East Conference, which also featured strong performances from St. John's and Syracuse that season.

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Story summary

St. John's Red Storm defeated UConn Huskies 72-52 in the Big East final at Madison Square Garden.
The win earned St. John's its second consecutive championship under coach Richard Pitino.
UConn coach Dan Hurley expressed disappointment, citing 17 turnovers and poor shooting.
Silas Demary Jr. suffered a left ankle injury, raising questions about his NCAA Tournament availability.
UConn is expected to receive a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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