St. John’s University is on the brink of securing the top seed in the upcoming Big East Tournament, with a crucial game set against Seton Hall on Friday night. The 18th-ranked Red Storm, boasting an impressive 24-6 record, are tied with No. 4 Connecticut at the top of the conference standings, each holding a 17-2 record. This follows notable road victories by Creighton and Marquette on Wednesday, further intensifying the competition.
In their two matchups this season, St. John’s and UConn have split victories. However, St. John’s experienced a setback against Providence, while the Huskies fell to Creighton. As it stands, if both teams end up sharing the regular season title, St. John’s will claim the top seed due to UConn’s loss to a higher-ranked opponent.
Creighton’s commanding 76-59 win over Butler has ensured they will finish ahead of Providence, who suffered a 78-56 defeat against Marquette. With St. John’s facing Seton Hall at 9 p.m. Friday at Prudential Center, the Red Storm will look to build on their earlier success against the Pirates, where they staged a remarkable comeback from a 15-point deficit to win 65-60 on January 20.
Meanwhile, UConn’s matchup against Marquette on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. presents another challenge, although they previously won their first encounter 73-57 back in January.
St. John’s enters this final stretch not only as the reigning Big East regular season and tournament champion but also aiming to replicate their back-to-back regular season titles from 1984-85 and 1985-86. The upcoming games not only offer a chance for championship glory but also illustrate the robust competitiveness of the Big East conference, fostering an exciting conclusion to the regular season.