St. John’s blows out UConn in BIG EAST Final to claim back-to-back conference titles
By Noah Zimmerman
noah@queensledger.com
Earlier this season, it seemed like back-to-back BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships were out of the question for St. John’s. The UConn Huskies sat comfortably in the nation’s top-10 all season long while the Johnnies struggled against a tough non-conference schedule before faltering against the Friars in early January.
However, after their defeat to Providence the Red Storm went 18-1, culminating in a conference tournament championship tiebreaker against UConn. St. John’s defeated the Huskies in the first matchup of the year, 81-72 at MSG. When the Red Storm visited Hartford for the return game, UConn responded with a 32-point win to snap their 13-game winning streak.
The contest in Connecticut opened the door for the Huskies to win their second outright regular season title in over 20 years, but two late conference defeats to Creighton and Marquette allowed St. John’s to claim a consecutive BIG EAST crown on the final weekend of action.
The St. John’s Red Storm went back to back in both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament for the first time in program history! Photos by Noah Zimmerman
Red Storm v Huskies III
The Red Storm didn’t trail for a moment in their first two BIG EAST Tournament matchups, winning a season series tiebreaker against Providence before taking down the Seton Hall Pirates. They carried that momentum into the championship game, opening with a quick 10-0 lead.
That advantage ballooned as large as 17 in the opening half. Zuby Ejiofor was dominant on both ends, Dillon Mitchell was searing through the air for dunks, and Bryce Hopkins kept scoring as the trio once again dominated the floor.
UConn was able to keep the deficit to 13 at the break, going on to mount a 2nd half comeback. A 9-0 run cut the lead to just 7 points but Ejiofor knocked down a three to help the Johnnies maintain control.
The battle of the bigs was terrific as UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. took on Ejiofor. The Huskies senior scored a team high 17 points, also leading the team in rebounds with 7. Ejiofor finished with 18 points, tied with Hopkins for the game high. He brought down 9 rebounds, picked up 3 steals, and recorded 7 of 8 Red Storm blocks.
St. John’s pulled away in the final minutes, winning 72-52. For the second straight year, the Red Storm conquered the BIG EAST, and for the 4th straight season the regular season winner repeated as conference tournament champions.
The Red Storm have been on fire in 2026. Their only losses this year came in early January against Providence and in late February at UConn.
A Top-10 Ranked 5 Seed?
The Red Storm were one of a few teams handed brutal draws on Selection Sunday. Despite coming in at #10 on Monday’s AP National Rankings, St. John’s were given the #5 seed in a brutal Eastern Region.
Atop the region is the #1 overall seeded Duke, who the Johnnies would face in the Sweet 16 should they win their opening two rounds. If they’re somehow able to unseat the top team in the nation, a fourth matchup against UConn could await St. John’s with a place in the Final Four on the line.
However, the focus must remain on opening weekend. While the #5 vs #12 matchups are famed for dramatic upsets, St. John’s were drawn against a Northern Iowa team that doesn’t have the physical presence to stop the Red Storm’s three-headed frontcourt monster.
The Johnnies fell in the 2nd round in 2025 to John Calipari and #10 Arkansas, and it will likely be another 2nd round battle between Hall of Fame coaches as Rick Pitino faces Bill Self and the #4 Kansas Jayhawks.
All three matchups between the Red Storm and Huskies have been thrilling, even though two of them ended up fairly lopsided. Will they meet again in the Elite Eight?
Dance, Johnnies! Dance!
The second half of the season has been nothing short of magical for St. John’s. Now it’s time to see if Pitino can help the Red Storm carry that magic into late March.
Tip-off in the opening round against Northern Iowa is slated for Friday, March 20 at 7:10pm in San Diego. The winner advances to the second round to play either Kansas or Cal Baptist on Sunday the 22.
The East Regional matchups (Sweet 16 and Elite 8) will be held at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. on March 27 and 29 with the Final Four and NCAA Championship tipping off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 4 and 6.
