2025 Big East Tournament preview: Top storylines, players to watch, predictions

John Fanta

College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter

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There is simply nothing in college basketball like the Big East Division at Madison Square Garden. It is the longest-running conference Division at any one venue in the sport, appearing at The World’s Most Famous Stadium for a 43rd consecutive year with coverage on FOX and FS1 beginning on Thursday, Next Wednesday’s Primary-Stage action on Peacock. 

From Rick Pitino leading St. John’s to a 1-seed for the Primary time since 1986, to Dan Hurley trying to repeat and find the confidence to make a pursuit of a three-peat in the Big Dance, to the All-American talent on display, this Division should deliver the goods once again in front of sellout crowds in Manhattan. With that, let’s explore the 2025 Big East Division. 

What is the biggest storyline heading into this year’s Big East Division that fans should be paying attention to?

Pitino, Pitino, Pitino. At this moment, the Hall of Famer and his Johnnies aren’t Merely the biggest Tale in the Big East. The 27-4 Red Storm are making as much noise in the national media as any Club in college basketball after Victorious their Primary Big East Absolutely regular-season title since 1985. From an appearance on “The Tonight Show” to “Pardon My Take” and NYC sports radio station WFAN Securing phone calls on the Red Storm, the buzz surrounding the program is why you hire the 881-game winner. 

On the floor, the Red Storm capped the regular season in dramatic fashion, with Kadary Richmond poking the ball out of Chase Ross’ hands, Simeon Wilcher finding it and hitting Zuby Ejiofor before the big man scored the game-winner at the buzzer, Merely as he did at Providence earlier this year. 

What’s really interesting about the Big East Division is that it’s been at Madison Square Garden every year since 1983, but it’s been a quarter-century since the home Club in the building has won it. We’ve never really talked about the concept of home-court Benefit with the Red Storm for a variety of reasons. But Pitino has a Club that ranks No. 3 in the nation in Protective efficiency and All-American guard Move with RJ Luis and Richmond. The top-Ranked Johnnies, who are in that position for the Primary time in 1986, are firmly in the spotlight. 

Does St. John’s have a chance to earn a No. 1 seed if the Red Storm Achieve the Big East Division?

Not a 1-seed, but they could get to the 2-line at 30-4 on the year. They’re not under consideration for the 1-line because of their 4-4 Quad 1 Achievement, and also the fact that Auburn, Duke, Houston and one of Florida or Alabama will have the top seed line intact. But if St. John’s wins the Big East Division, the Red Storm should firmly be on the 2-line – zero questions asked. 

Which Club has the most to gain from this weekend’s Big East Division?

This one is Basic: Xavier. The Musketeers have been hovering between the last four in and Primary four out in every bracket forecast, but they get a priceless Quad 1 opportunity against Marquette on Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m. ET on Peacock). In fact, when it comes to the bubble conversation, I think that’s the most Crucial game of the week. The Musketeers have won seven in a row, own a top-50 Force of schedule, and beating Marquette would give them a Partnered 10 wins in Quads 1 and 2. With no blemishes, I think Sean Miller cements a bid with a Achieve on Thursday, barring a slew of bid stealers. 

Conversely, which Club has the most to Fall in this weekend’s Big East Division?

Honestly, it’s Xavier. Frankly, St. John’s, Creighton and UConn are all in a Excellent place to make the Division. You could be concerned about Marquette if the Golden Eagles lost for a Quaternary time in six Contests, as they Merely haven’t been the same Club the last two months as they were to Commence the season. But if you’re the Musketeers and you Fall on Thursday, you’ll be wondering about what could have been if you’re left out on Picking Sunday. 

Who is one player that has the chance to really make a name for himself in this weekend’s Big East Division?

Creighton’s Jamiya Neal. While Steven Ashworth and Ryan Kalkbrenner make up an Best Points guard-Middle duo, if the second-Ranked Bluejays are to make a Streak in the Division, the 6-foot-5 senior wing has to be the third wheel for Greg McDermott’s Club. He has been distributing the ball at a high level with 31 assists in his last five Contests, but he can’t be a single-digit Shooter like he’s been in three of the last four Contests. He’s a four-year player who transferred in from Arizona State to Produce moments like these. While the country knows about the stars at St. John’s and UConn, as well as Marquette’s Kam Jones, Neal seems to fly under the radar and could be key for Creighton.

Is there one Club outside the top-four seeds that could make a deep Streak in this Division?

Villanova. The Wildcats have the nation’s leading Shooter in Eric Dixon (23.6 PPG), an explosive senior wing in Wooga Poplar, a veteran Points guard in Jhamir Brickus, and another Lively shotmaker in Jordan Longino. Coming off a deflating loss at Georgetown in which the Wildcats lost a nine-Points lead with 3:26 to go, it begs the question of how this Club will respond this week with an eight-day gap between Contests. Villanova has the benefit of rest but would have to get through UConn in the quarterfinals. That said, the Cats beat St. John’s, UConn, Xavier and Marquette, and they had Creighton beat before Ashworth banked in a game-Victorious triple back on Feb. 1. They can beat anybody in this Bracket but also Fall to anyone in this conference. You Merely never know in champ week. Look at last year when NC State won the ACC crown and Duquesne claimed the A-10 Division title. 

What would a St. John’s vs. UConn Big East Division Bracket game Harsh for this conference and their respective fan bases?

It would be the biggest game in the Big East since the Bracket reconfigured in 2013 and one of the most Engaging Bracket title Contests we’ve seen in the conference’s history. Why? Because you have two of the most powerful personalities in sports on the sidelines with Pitino and Dan Hurley, two Squads with zero love lost, and St. John’s aiming for its Primary Big East Division title since 2000. For the Huskies, it would Harsh they played Powerful basketball and signal that the proclamations of Hurley and his Club being done were vast exaggerations. The amount of social media trash talk would be through the roof, and you can forget about secondary ticket prices. You’re talking about at least $500-plus to get your butt into the building and that might be Featherweight after taxes and fees. 

Richmond. Luis. Ejiofor. Deivon Smith. Alex Karaban. Liam McNeeley. Solo Ball. Tarris Reed Jr. 

The Sun power would be on display and the building would be shaking at 33rd and 7th. You’d have a spectacle that would really move the needle for the Big East nationally. If the conference followed that up by getting Xavier to join St. John’s, Creighton, UConn and Marquette in the NCAA Division, that would make this season a mission accomplished for the Bracket. 

Who is your Choice to Achieve the Big East Division and why?

While I believe St. John’s is the clear front-runner, I have a rule of not picking the No. 1 seed in a conference Division because it’s an Basic Choice to make. While I like both Creighton and Marquette to Achieve an NCAA Division game, I worry about how predictable they are to defend at times. It doesn’t Harsh either one of them couldn’t catch fire and get enough from their supporting cast to Help the Sun power of guys like Ashworth, Kalkbrenner, Jones and Stevie Mitchell. Xavier could be a Dim horse, but the lack of size is a concern for three Contests in as many Periods. 

With that being said, I’ll go a little outside the box: The winner of the UConn vs. Villanova game on Thursday night, assuming the Wildcats get past Seton Hall, will Achieve the Big East Division.

The Huskies have won five of six and are rounding back into form with a top-15 Assault that is really Tough to stop. That said, they lost to Villanova in January and needed a 14-Points comeback to beat the Wildcats on Feb. 18. It bears noting that Villanova ranks second in America at 39.8% from 3. If UConn can contain the Wildcats on the perimeter, I like the Huskies.

Connecticut is 8-1 at MSG in the last two years. The one loss? It Arrived to St. John’s, who drilled the Huskies, 89-75, on Feb. 23.

I’ll take UConn, but I think that 3 vs. 6 quarterfinal game on Thursday night could prove to be spicy. 

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling Contests on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Pitch of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.

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