Big East Conference Tournament Preview: Can anyone stop St. John’s?
Madison Square Garden. March basketball. And a conference title on the line.
The Big East Tournament tips from Wednesday, and while multi -year powerhouses such as Uconn, Creighton and Marquette are in the mix, it is Rick Pitin’s St. John’s Squad that comes in as the team to beat.
For the first time since 1985, the Red Storm is only at the top of the conference. They closed the regular season and won 16 of their last 17 games, their only loss in that Span that came in two points in Villanova. Pitino, now in his first season in St. John’s, has turned a once busy program back into a powerhouse.
But the path to the Big East Tournament title will not be easy. Xavier has been red hot since January. UConn tries to recapture his championship form. Creighton and Marquette are still dangerous.
If the best battle of the Big East for an automatic ticket for the NCAA tournament, here is everything you need to know about this week’s matchups.
Can St. John’s finish the track?
The red storm is the clear favorite, but the gap between them and the rest of the field is not huge.
- About their last 15 gamesSt. John’s Rangen 21st in the country in efficiency.
- Xavier? Immediately behind them at number 23.
- Creighton is number 28, UConn at no. 37.
The Pitino team has the best defense of the nation in 2025 and plays its best basketball of the year. Juju Watkins has been a dominant power and Kiki Iriafen has been an anchor low.
And yet March is unpredictable.
The Big East Tournament never fails to deliver chaos, and this year should not be different.
St. John’s is perhaps the team to be beat, but the road to a title runs through some of the most fight tested teams in the country.
Let the madness begin.
2025 Big East Tournament Futures Opportunities
St. John’s is preferred in Big East Tournament Futures Odds. From there, it is expected that Uconn, Creighton and Marquette give the red storm a challenge.
Betonline’s Big East Tournament Championship odds:
- St. John’s Red Storm +130
- Connecticut Huskies +400
- Creighton Blue Jays +425
- Marquette Golden Eagles +600
- Xavier Musketeers +1100
- Villanova Wildcats +1400
- Butler Bulldogs +8000
- Georgetown Hoyas +8000
- Providence Friars +15000
- Depaul Blue Demons +25000
- Seton Hall Pirates +30000
2025 Big East Tournament -Scheme
The Big East Tournament runs from 12-15 March in Madison Square Garden.
First round
- No. 9 Butler vs. No. 8 Providence, 4 pm et Wednesday (Peacock)
- No. 10 Depaul vs. No. 7 Georgetown, 6.30 pm et Wednesday (Peacock)
- No. 11 Seton Hall vs. No. 6 Villanova, 9 p.m. et Wednesday (Peacock)
Quarter -finals
- Butler/Providence versus no. 1 St. John’s, afternoon et Thursday (Peacock)
- No. 5 Marquette vs. No. 4 Xavier, 2.30 pm et Thursday (Peacock)
- Depaul/Georgetown vs. No. 2 Creighton, 7 pm et Thursday (FS1)
- Seton Hall/Villanova vs. No. 3 UConn, 9:30 PM et Thursday (FS1)
Semi -final
- TBA vs. TBA, 6.30 pm et Friday (Fox)
- TBA vs. TBA, 9 pm et Friday (FOX)
Championship
- TBA vs. TBA, 6.30 pm et Saturday (Fox)
Big East Conference Expert -Picks and Best bets
For a large part of the year, Uconn seemed ready to dominate again. The Huskies came in the season with dreams of a three-level after arranging college basketball in the past two years. But after the second half of the season stumbling-included two losses for St. John’s arrive UConn in New York as the number 3 seed with a record of 22-9.
It is difficult to exclude a team that is coached by Dan Hurley, but this is not the same dominant UConn team of the past two years. Without a deep run at MSG it is difficult to see the Huskies regain their championship shape.
In the meantime, the success of Marquette has faded in the early season. The Golden Eagles only went 8-7 during their last 15 games and went into the 44th place in the Big East Tournament in the overall efficiency during that period, according to the ranking of Bart Torvik.
Xavier, on the other hand, increases. After a rough start of Big East Play, the musketeers won seven immediately to close the season and finished in fourth place in the conference. Their CV includes victories over Uconn and Marquette, but their overall oeuvre still leaves them on the tournament doubles. A deep run at MSG would strengthen their place in the NCAA tournament.
Villanova? The wildcats stick to hope. A disappointing 18-13 season lets them look on the outside. Wins over St. John’s, Uconn and Marquette prove that they have the talent, but unless they make a statement this week, Villanova could miss the tournament for the third consecutive year. That kind of drought could cost head coach Kyle Neptunus his job.
Sleep pick: Xavier Musketeers +1100
The Xavier Musketeers are in the NCAA tournament – at least for the time being. But with selection on Sunday and the bubble contract by the minute, their place in the NCAA tournament is anything but safe.
A victory this week would calm the nerves in Cincinnati. A loss? That’s where things become Dicey.
Teams such as Oklahoma, Georgia, North Carolina and San Diego State are all ready to play Critical Quadrant 1 (Q1) on Wednesday, which means that a Xavier loss could push them to the wrong side of the bubble. Every conference tournament throughout the country is a moving puzzle and the musketeers cannot afford to be a passive piece.
This brings us to Marquette – Xavier’s golden chance. The Golden Eagles represent a crucial Q1 game, and a victory would set up another Q1 matchup in the semi -final. One victory would help. Two would remove all doubts.
And the way in which this Big East tournament is used is there, there is a path for Xavier to make a statement. I like this team lately. They are worth a kite here.
Expertkick: UConn +400
It is always difficult to play the favorites in these conference tournaments. They win with grit. With defense. With rebound and a ruthlessness that never falters. St. John’s imposes his will.
The figures tell the story-de no. 3-ranked defense of Kenpom, behind only Tennessee and Houston. The Red Storm Grind teams down, possession through possession, stop at Stop. Their Achilles’ heel? The three -point line. With only 29.9% of deep, it is one tear in their armor, the only mistake that could cost them everything.
And yet the path feels inevitable. Creighton (+425) makes a strong matter, but fate can indicate a third confrontation between St. John’s (+130) and Connecticut in Madison Square Garden. No matter how much I love this St. John’s Squad, I am looking for value elsewhere.
Dan Hurley’s dream of a historic NCAA Three-Peat slips away, but at the moment? This fight? It’s not about history. It’s over now.
The Huskies have the size, the talent, the Shooters – Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, Liam McNeeley, Tarris Reed Jr., Samson Johnson. They have the pedigree. But they have to survive Villanova, fighting through Creighton and then, under the bright lights of the garden, find a way to prevent a third right loss for the ruthless red storm of Pitino.
It’s March. It’s chaos. And when the bet is highest, I guess Hurley.
Best bets:
- Xavier Muskateers +1100
- UConn Huskies +400
