UConn and St. John’s are set-up to clash for Big East Tournament Championship.
The Big East Tournament Semifinals played out how most anticipated. The two best teams in the conference all season proved once again why they sit atop the rankings.
Defending Big East Tournament Champion St. John’s was able to build an early lead and stop a late Seton Hall rally to advance to the finals for the second straight season under Rick Pitino.
UConn was also able to handle business in their Big East Tournament game against Georgetown to advance to their second Big East Tournament Championship Game in the past three seasons.
These two teams have split their two regular season matchups and many were hoping to see these teams play for a third time.
In the first matchup, St. John’s ended UConn’s 18-game winning streak by pulling ahead in the second half to beat the Huskies 81-72 at MSG.
In the second matchup, UConn got their revenge, ending St. John’s 13-game winning streak in what turned out to be the most lopsided game in their series history.
St. John’s could not buy a basket all night, missing 12 straight shots in the first half, and then went the final 17:27 without a field goal to end the game in a 72-40 beatdown by UConn.
Don’t expect this game to be the same as that last one however, both teams are playing excellent basketball and will each be extremely motivated to capture a Big East Tournament Championship.
“Obviously it’s going to be a death match for the Big East championship… this league needs a game like this tomorrow night that everyone that’s a basketball fan’s going to be dialed into. So, yeah, it’s exciting. You knew there was going to be a third round and here we are,” said UConn coach Dan Hurley.
If that doesn’t get you fired up for a basketball game, then nothing will. Saturday night at Madison Square Garden is going to be electric.
Zuby Ejiofor is looking to cement himself as a Big East legend
Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor is living up to that title so far this Big East Tournament.
In his first game against Providence he was doing a bit of everything for St. John’s with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.
In his second game against Seton Hall he was dominant once again, scoring 20 points to lead St. John’s to the championship game.
That was his fourth-straight game scoring more than 20 points in a Big East Tournament game dating back to last season when St. John’s won the Big East Championship. The last player to do this was Kemba Walker in 2011 during his epic Big East Tournament run with UConn.
Any time you are mentioned in the same breath as Kemba Walker when talking about the Big East, that means you are doing something right.
If St. John’s were to win a second-straight Big East Championship then Zuby Ejiofor will be the reason and he will add a Big East Tournament MVP to his growing list of accolades.
Braylon Mullins is bringing the rain to The Big East Tournament
UConn star freshman Braylon Mullins, also known as “Bringer of Rain” by coach Dan Hurley, showed the college basketball world why he earned that nickname against Georgetown in the Big East Tournament Semifinals.
He was on fire from the start, scoring 15 first-half points on 7-12 shooting from the floor, highlighting his high arcing shot that “rains” down.
Mullins finished with a final stat-line of 21 points and 5 rebounds, something no UConn freshman has ever done before in a Big East Tournament game.
“That guy’s an awesome player…I mean, I think he’s got bigger nights than that even ahead of him,” said Dan Hurley after the game.
Mullins was also a steady presence for UConn in their opening game of the tournament scoring 9 points on 4-9 shooting from the floor.
Braylon Mullins is soaking in every moment as a UConn player, as the freshman phenom projects to be a lottery pick this upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
“I think we’re all grateful to be going into the Big East Championship game. And being a freshman, like, I mean, there’s nowhere else I would want to be at,” said Mullins.