The Big East is due to release the 2026-27 men’s basketball
schedule shortly, but we apparently have a big nugget of information in advance.
Jon Rothstein of
CBS Sports reported Thursday afternoon that UConn and its emerging rival
– St. John’s – will play their pair of
conference games on Jan. 29 and March 2.
The first game is expected to be held at Madison Square
Garden – the usual home court for the Red Storm – with the latter game in
Connecticut.
Neither school has confirmed the dates.
Rick Pitino vs. Dan Hurley
The quality of play has risen at St. John’s since Naismith
Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino took over ahead of the 2023-24
season. The Red Storm were 18-15 (7-13 Big East) in 2022-23 in the final season
of the tenure of head coach Mike Anderson.
The Red Storm finished 20-13 (11-9) in Pitino’s first season,
followed by seasons of 31-5 (18-2) in 2024-25 and 30-7 (18-2) in 2025-26.
Games between Pitino and UConn head coach Dan Hurley pit two
of the best basketball minds and best recruiters, each determined to bring out
the best of their teams in the high-profile and, lately, high-stakes games.
Since Pitino took the helm at St. John’s, the Red Storm and Huskies have
split their regular-season matchups. UConn swept the games in Pitino’s first
season, and St. John’s won both in the second season. In 2025-26, the teams
split in the regular season, with St. John’s posting a decisive 72-52 win in
the conference championship game in March.
The Red Storm have won the past two Big East titles. UConn
has won two of the past four national championships and narrowly lost in the title
game in April, 69-63 to Michigan.
Is St. John’s the Big East favorite in 2026-27?
It is way too early to project that.
UConn has had its share of turnover since the end of last
season and so has St. John’s, with star players from last season now in
the NBA. Both coaches mined the transfer portal for key additions.
But the Huskies have a clear advantage, nonetheless. Hurley
and his staff know guards Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins are destined to
repeat as starters in the upcoming season, and coaches also know the other
three starters are on the roster.
Pitino does not know which players he will have available.
Like other college coaches and a large collection of players, Pitino is waiting
to learn whether some potential starters will be eligible, their fates caught
in the courts and the NCAA for different reasons.
Will Keyshawn Hall, a potential transfer from Auburn, be
eligible to play a fifth college seasonK
Will Quinn Ellis, who has played professionally in Italy, be
given the OK by the NCAA? The organization is taking a harsher look at
international transfers.
And how about the case of Babacar Sane, who signed an Exhibit
10 deal with the Utah Jazz. On Monday, he was granted a temporary order
allowing him to play, pending an Oct. 1 hearing.
Ask us again when all the puzzle pieces have fallen into
place who the favorite is to win the Big East men’s basketball crown.
