UConn and St. John's Set for Big East Championship Showdown

The highly anticipated Big East Tournament championship game will feature the No. 6 UConn Huskies (29-4) against the No. 13 St. John's Red Storm (27-6) on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. This matchup serves as a rubber match after both teams split their regular-season encounters, with St. John's winning 81-72 on February 6 and UConn responding with a decisive 72-40 victory on February 25. UConn's coach Dan Hurley emphasized the significance of this game, stating, “You knew there was going to be a third round, and here we are.”

CBS SportsMen’s Basketball: No. 2-seed UConn set for long awaited clash with No. 1-seed St. John’s in Big East Tournament FinalUSA TodayUsNews and World ReportBig East Tournament: UConn vs St. John's Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 14)University of Connecticut Athletics

Both teams have demonstrated strong performances leading up to the championship. UConn advanced to the final with victories over No. 10 seed Xavier (93-68) and No. 11 seed Georgetown (67-51). St. John's reached the final by defeating No. 9 seed Providence (85-72) and No. 4 seed Seton Hall (78-68). Key players include UConn's Braylon Mullins, who scored 21 points against Georgetown, and St. John's Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East Player of the Year, who has been instrumental in the Red Storm's success.

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This championship game marks the first time since 2000 that two of the conference's charter members will face off in the final. St. John's aims to become the first team to win back-to-back Big East Tournament titles since the league eliminated divisions in 2003-04. Historically, UConn and St. John's have met 76 times, with St. John's holding a slight edge at 40-35. The rivalry has intensified, particularly under the leadership of coaches Dan Hurley and Rick Pitino, both of whom have significant stakes in the outcome.

CBS Sports

Hurley described the game as a “death match” for the Big East championship, highlighting the importance of both teams to the league. Pitino echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’re playing for a championship... We’re going to play tomorrow as if our life is on the line.” Both coaches recognize the stakes involved, not only for the conference title but also for potential NCAA Tournament seeding.

Big East Championship Preview: UConn Takes on St. John’s in Madison Square Garden

Despite their successes, both teams have faced criticism. UConn's recent loss to Marquette raised concerns about their consistency, while St. John's has been scrutinized for their performance against UConn in the previous matchup. Hurley noted, “We did not shoot the ball well, at all... but we gave effort,” indicating the need for improvement.

USA Today

The championship game is set for Saturday, March 14, at 6:30 PM ET, and will be broadcast on FOX. The winner will not only claim the Big East title but also enhance their positioning for the NCAA Tournament, with UConn seeking its ninth tournament title and St. John's aiming for its fifth.

University of Connecticut Athletics

• “You knew there was going to be a third round, and here we are.” — Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

Hartford Courant

• “We played for the regular season [title] as if our life was on the line. We’re going to play tomorrow as if our life is on the line.” — Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach

New York Post

• “It’ll be World War III on the backboards,” — Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

UsNews and World Report

This championship matchup promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the Big East Tournament, showcasing two of the top teams in college basketball.

University of Connecticut Athletics