Big East Conference Tournament Preview for Games on Friday, March 13, 2026

By Richard Janvrin | Mar 13, 2026, 6:35am

The Big East Tournament is heading into the semifinals today. The final four teams are St. John’s, Seton Hall, UConn, and Georgetown – with the last team upsetting Villanova. The final will be played on Saturday, March 14, at 6:30 pm from Madison Square Garden!

Let’s go through Friday’s contests and get you set for all the action!

Friday’s Big East Conference Tournament Schedule

St. John’s vs. Seton Hall – 17:00/FOX
UConn vs. Georgetown – 19:30/FS1

2026 Big East Tournament Resources

Saint John’s vs. Seton Hall Game Preview

St. John’s and Seton Hall both move on to the next round after beating Providence and Creighton, respectively. St. John’s had an 85-72 win, while Seton Hall had an 11-point, 72-61, win.

In the win over Creighton, Seton Hall’s Adam Clark and Jacob Dar each went for 16 points. The Pirates shot 40.7% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Creighton shot a miserable 23.5% from 3-point range. Seton Hall is a solid 3-point shooting defense, holding teams to 32.7% from beyond the arc.

As for St. John’s, Zuby Ejiofor led the way in their win over Providence with 21 points and 10 boards. Ian Jackson, Bryce Hopkins, and Oziyah Sellers each had 14 points. The Red Storm managed 85 points, shooting just 25.9% from 3-point range.

If you’re a fan of defensive basketball, you’re in for a treat. Both of these teams rank inside the top 15 in defensive efficiency. Offensively, St. John’s is 52nd in offensive efficiency (119.6), and Seton Hall is 152nd (110.3).

Saint John’s vs. Seton Hall Game Odds

UConn vs. Georgetown Game Preview

UConn took on Xavier and advanced to the semifinals in a game that was not particularly close, winning 93-68. Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr., and Solo Ball all had double-digit points, and Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary Jr., Jayden Ross, and Eric Reibe each had nine. They shot 57.4% from the field, 37.5% from 3-point range, and 84.6% from the line. The Huskies are 26th in offensive efficiency (122.8) and 12th in defensive efficiency (94.4).

They’ll take on the Hoyas, who had yet another upset. They took down No. 6 DePaul in the first round and followed that up with a win over Villanova. Julius Halaifonua led the way with 20-plus points. A big part of their success was limiting the 3-point shots and Villanova had trouble making shots all night long. Also, Georgetown dominated them on the boards.

The Hoyas have had a nice run, but I’m not sure they can get by UConn. They kept it close in both games during the regular season, but also lost both. UConn has the advantage on the glass, and their guards, Mullins, Solo, and Demary Jr., are excellent. In their most recent matchup, the Huskies came away with a win despite shooting just 32.4% from beyond the arc and 72% from the free-throw line. Georgetown needs some good luck on its side.

UConn vs. Georgetown Game Odds

Big East Conference Tournament Betting Pick

The semifinals consist of two great matchups, but I’ll lay the points with St. John’s. I don’t feel great about laying 7.5 points in a game with two excellent defenses, but the Seton Hall offense isn’t nearly as good as what St. John’s offers.

St. John’s won both games against Seton Hall during the regular season. St. John’s is shooting 72.4% from the line this season. I say that because, in their last matchup, the Red Storm won by seven, but shot 59.1% from the line. This will be close, but St. John’s wins by eight or more.

Best Bet: Saint John’s (1 unit)

Big East Conference Tournament Betting Tracker

Record: 2-0
Units: +2.0

Richard Janvrin

While attending the University of New Hampshire and pursuing a degree in English/Journalism, Richard Janvrin landed his first paid writing role, creating fantasy football and NFL content for Bleacher Report. After three years with the company, he expanded into the sports betting and iGaming space as legalized online wagering grew across the United States. Richard’s first role in the sports betting/iGaming industry came with Gambling.com, where he continues to contribute today. What began as a side hustle eventually turned into a full-time freelance career, leading to opportunities with outlets such as The Game Day, BetMGM, Forbes, LegalSportsReport, Lineups, and Pro Football Focus, among others. With more than a decade of professional writing experience, Richard has covered a wide range of topics, including sportsbook and casino reviews, prediction analysis, emerging prediction markets, and lottery coverage. His goal is to present complex subjects in a clear, engaging, and easy-to-understand format for readers of all experience levels.