The Connecticut Huskies' run to another Big East Tournament championship has a little bite to it.
A Red Storm may finally be strong enough to crash March's annual Garden party.
The St. John's Red Storm stands as the toast of the town and the class of the conference when the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament makes its annual descent upon Madison Square Garden, which opens its hallowed halls to the eclectic eleven on Wednesday.
While many eyes linger on the Connecticut Huskies and their conference/national championship defense, Rick Pitino's Red Storm has undoubtedly captured local and national imaginations. Of course, the event would never have gained its legendary reputation if a final matchup between the Red Storm and Huskies was assured. The road to a Saturday night thriller live from New York is loaded with hardwood landmines that are hard to avoid.
With that in mind, Ballislife has everything you need to know about the 2025 proceedings.
What: 2025 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
When: March 12-15
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
No. 1 St. John's Red Storm (27-4, 18-2)
Head Coach: Rick Pitino (2nd season, 47-17)
Players to Watch: RJ Luis Jr. (18.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals), Zuby Ejiofor (14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 57.3 field goal percentage), Kadary Richmond (12.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.1 steals)
Last Big East Title: 2000 (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2019)
The power of Pitino has juiced the Johnnies, who are destined for the NCAA Tournament after winning their first regular season conference title in over three decades. Ditching another dire streak won't be easy, especially with medical questions surrounding Deivon Smith. However, local product Richmond has led the way and boasts postseason leadership experience after guiding Seton Hall to an NIT title last spring.
The Red Storm reached the semifinals last year, but a number of surprise conference champions relegated them to a rejected NIT bid. The motivation will be in short supply for the de facto home team.
No. 2 Creighton Bluejays (22-9, 15-5)
Head Coach: Doug McDermott (12th season, 347-169)
Players to Watch: Ryan Kalkbrenner (19.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.7 blocks), Steven Ashworth (16.8 points, 7.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds), Jamiya Neal (11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists)
Last Big East Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024)
The Jays have accomplished nearly everything in the lasting Kalkbrenner era except prevail in the conference tournament. Three-time defending Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Kalkbrenner has been to MSG's final twice. However, he's yet to obtain the hardware, which would be a fitting end to a resilient season in Omaha.
Thee Jays have flown over ranked competition en route the Big East's second seed despite losing touted transfer Pop Isaacs (who has not played in the new year due to injury) and getting off to a disastrous start at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.
No. 3 Connecticut Huskies (22-9, 14-6)
Head Coach: Dan Hurley (5th season, 163-67)
Players to Watch: Solo Ball (14.8 points, 42.8 3-point field goal percentage), Liam McNeeley (14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds), Alex Karaban (14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks)
Last Big East Title: 2024
This national championship defense has been a rollercoaster: Hurley and the Huskies did well enough to render a horrific Hawaii showing (0-3 in the Maui Invitational) mostly forgotten, but there have been enough missteps.
For example, last month's puzzling overtime loss to Seton Hall has placed doubts in the national title hopefuls. The Huskies did manage to close on a high note, winning each of their last four thanks to the rise of familiar champions such as Hassan Diara (28 assists in the closing quartet).
No. 4 Xavier Musketeers (21-10, 13-7)
Head Coach: Sean Miller (3rd season, 64-38)
Players to Watch: Zach Freemantle (17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 52.4 field goal percentage), Ryan Conwell (16.2 points, 40.7 three-point percentage), Dailyn Swain (10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds)
Last Big East Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2023)
The Musketeers ended their regular season on a high note, winning each of their last seven and 12 of their last 15. That includes a stretch with victories over Marquette and UConn (not to mention an overtime loss to St. John's). So far, that's enough to get them on numerous "Last Four In/First Four Out" lists from bracketologists, thus making them one of the teams carrying the most to lose entering MSG week.
No. 5 Marquette Golden Eagles (22-9, 13-7)
Head Coach: Shaka Smart (4th season, 97-39)
Players to Watch: Kam Jones (18.9 points, 6.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds), David Joplin (13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds), Stevie Mitchell (10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals)
Last Big East Title: 2023 (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024)
Despite losing previous headliners Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro to the NBA, the Golden Eagles got off to a sterling start at 18-3. However, they dropped six of their last ten, falling to the last of the first round byes.
They've more than likely secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but will likely take things personal after falling to UConn in last year's title game. Marquette is looking to become the first team to reach three consecutive Big East finals since Villanova's trio of titles between 2017 and 2019.
No. 6 Villanova Wildcats (18-13, 11-9)
Head Coach: Kyle Neptune (3rd season, 53-46)
Players to Watch: Eric Dixon (23.6 points, 5.4 rebounds), Wooga Poplar (14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds)
Last Big East Title: 2022
Life after Jay Wright has hit its most bizarre point. The Wildcats boast the services the nation's top scorer in Dixon, as well as wins over UConn, St. John's, and Marquette. Yet, holding a late lead has proven to be their most formidable challenge.
They don't land on anyone's projected bracket, and only a Manhattan championship is set to raise their stock. Time will tell if it's the last stand for Neptune, Wright's embattled successor whose postseason experience consists of consecutive immediate exits in the NIT.
No. 7 Georgetown Hoyas (17-14, 8-12)
Head Coach: Ed Cooley (2nd season, 26-37)
Players to Watch: Micah Peavy (16.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals), Thomas Sorber (14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds)
Last Big East Title: 2021
The Hoyas couldn't sustain the momentum of a hot start (12-2, 3-0 in conference play), but they no doubt made strides away from the heartbreak of the Patrick Ewing era in year two under Cooley.
The most impressive win in that tally was a 24-point domination of Creighton in their Big East opener. The Hoyas are set to take on the Jays in the quarterfinals—if, of course, they can master a DePaul that has had their number in round one.
No. 8 Providence Friars (12-19, 6-14)
Head Coach: Kim English (2nd season, 33-33)
Players to Watch: Bensley Joseph (12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds), Jayden Pierre (12.5 points, 3.1 assists)
Last Big East Title: 2014 (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2023)
Conversely, the Friars took a step back in their second season without Cooley thanks to a plethora of injuries that forced English to employ a dozen different starting lineups. Bryce Hopkins, a 2023 First Team Big East nominee, is set to miss his second straight conference tournament while Jabri Abdur-Rahim (son of former NBA star Shareef) is also unavailable.
Hopkins' latest ailment sets the tone for a dour ending to the season, as Providence went 1-9 in their last 10 and let up 80 in six of those defeats.
No. 9 Butler Bulldogs (13-18, 6-14)
Head Coach: Thad Matta (3rd season, 45-52)
Players to Watch: Jahmyl Telfort (16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds), Pierre Brooks II (15.2 points, 5.0 rebounds)
Last Big East Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018)
The reeling Bulldogs never found their footing, after a 7-1 start that featured a neutral site victory over a ranked Mississippi State group ,and enter the tournament on a four-game losing streak. Butler never got over the loss of defensive standout and graduate transfer Posh Alexander, as it let up at least 70 points in all but two of its last 24 games.
No. 10 DePaul Blue Demons (13-18, 4-16)
Head Coach: Chris Holtmann (1st season)
Players to Watch: CJ Gunn (12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds), Isaiah Rivera (10.7 points, 41.6 three-point percentage)
Last Big East Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2004)
It was another year of serving as the Big East's punching bag, but the Blue Demons kept things at least somewhat respectable under former Butler boss Holtmann by more than tripling their win total of three from the prior campaign. For all their struggles, the Blue Demons at least stayed out of the Big East basement for the third time in the last four seasons, earning the de facto honor with late wins over Providence and round one opponent Georgetown.
No. 11 Seton Hall Pirates (7-24, 2-18)
Head Coach: Shaheen Holloway (3rd season, 49-52)
Players to Watch: Isaiah Coleman (15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals), Dylan Adde-Wusu (10.0 point, 3.4 rebounds)
Last Big East Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2004)
A plethora of transfers from last year's NIT champion group (namely that of Kadary Richmond to St. John's) hinted that stormy seas laid ahead for the Pirates, but this was a whole new maelstrom entirely. Doomed to a program-record 24 losses, injuries played a crucial role in the struggles (only two Pirates played in all 31 games this season and one was injured in the regular season finale) but it has no doubt raised the heat on Holloway with his Cinderella run at St. Peter's looking like an increasingly distant memory.
Schedule
(All Times ET)
Wednesday, March 12
(8) Providence vs. (9) Butler, 4 p.m., Peacock
(7) Georgetown vs. (10) DePaul, 6:30 p.m., Peacock
(6) Villanova vs. (11) Seton Hall, 9 p.m., Peacock
Thursday, March 13
(1) St. John's vs. TBD, 12 p.m., Peacock
(4) Xavier vs. (5) Marquette, 2:30 p.m., Peacock
(2) Creighton vs. GT/DP, 7 p.m., FS1
(3) Connecticut vs. NOVA/SHU, 9:30 p.m, FS1
Thursday, March 14
Semifinal 1: 6:30 p.m., Fox
Semifinal 2: 9 p.m., Fox
Thursday, March 15
Championship: 6:30 p.m., Fox
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
