Predicting Every Game of the 2025 Big East Basketball Tournament

Final: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner

BIG EAST FINAL: MARCH 15

No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 1 St. John's

Location: Madison Square Garden -New York, NY

Where to Watch: FOX

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Prediction: St. John's over Villanova

Villanova is one of two Big East teams to have handed St. John's a loss this season (Creighton was the other), but that was Finneran Pavillion, and the Johnnies were without guard Deivon Smith. This one will be at Madison Square Garden, where SJU is a perfect 8-0 this season, including a 12-point win over the Wildcats, and expect to have Smith back after he sat out Saturday's win at Marquette. At full strength, led by All-Big East stars RJ Luis Jr., Zuby Ejiofor, and Kadary Richmond, the Red Storm are the class of the conference primed to claim their first Big East Tournament title in 25 years, as well as a No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. 

Next Game: NCAA Tournament

First Round: (9) Butler vs. (8) Providence

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BIG EAST FIRST ROUND: MARCH 12

No. 9 Butler vs. No. 8 Providence

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: Peacock

Time: 4:00 p.m. ET

Spread: Butler -1.5 | Total: 149.5

Prediction: Butler Over Providence

These teams split their season series, and neither is playing well. A banged-up Providence team has dropped five straight games and nine of ten going into Madison Square Garden, while Bulter lost its final four regular-season games. Behind senior scorers Jahmyl Telfort (16.2 PPG) and Pierre Brooks II (15.2 PPG), supplemented by sharpshooters Patrick McCaffery (40.7 3PT FG%) and Finley Bizjack (42.5 3PT FG%), the Bulldogs take the first game in the Big Apple.

Next Game: vs. No. 1 St. John’s

First Round: (10) DePaul vs. (7) Georgetown

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BIG EAST FIRST ROUND: MARCH 12

No. 10 DePaul vs. No. 7 Georgetown

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: Peacock

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Spread: Georgetown -3.5 | Total: 144.5

Prediction: Georgetown Over DePaul

Two of the more improved teams in the Big East square off in Game No. 2. DePaul is coming off back-to-back conference wins for the first time since 2022, including a season finale over Georgetown, to complete the season sweep. Can the Blue Demons beat the Hoyas a third time and win a third straight Big East game? Even without Thomas Sorber, G-Town's three-guard attack, led by first-team All-Big East performer Micah Peavy, should catapult Ed Cooley's team into the quarterfinals. 

Next Game: vs. No. 2 Creighton

First Round: (11) Seton Hall vs. (6) Villanova

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BIG EAST FIRST ROUND: MARCH 12

No. 11 Seton Hall vs. No. 6 Villanova

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: Peacock

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Spread: Villanova -10.5 | Total: 126

Prediction: Villanova Over Seton Hall

Of the six teams playing on Wednesday, Villanova is the most dangerous and the lone potential sleeper. The Wildcats have the Big East's leading scorer in Eric Dixon (23.6 PPG) and shoot a whopping 39.8 percent from three-point range and 81.1 percent from the free throw line. That's too much offense for a woeful Seton Hall team that resides in last place and would need to make it to Saturday night to reach double-digit wins on the season. 

Next Game: vs. No. 3 Connecticut

Quarterfinal: Game 1 Winner vs. (1) St. John's

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BIG EAST QUARTERFINAL: MARCH 13

No. 9 Butler vs. No. 1 St. John's

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: Peacock

Time: 12:00 p.m. ET

Prediction: St. John's Over Butler

Neither win over Butler was easy for St. John's, but with two first-team All-Big East performers, the Red Storm are the far superior team. Leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. (18.1 PPG) reached 20+ points in both wins over the Bulldogs, who lack the athletes to match up with the No. 6 team in the country, especially at Madison Square Garden, where the Johnnies haven't lost all season. 

Next Game: vs. No. 5 Marquette/No. 4 Xavier Winner

Quarterfinal: (5) Marquette vs. (4) Xavier

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BIG EAST QUARTERFINAL: MARCH 13

No. 5 Marquette vs. No. 4 Xavier

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: Peacock

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

Spread: Marquette -2.5 | Total: 144.5

Prediction: Xavier Over Marquette

This is the marquee matchup of the quarterfinals at MSG. Xavier comes into Thursday afternoon riding a seven-game winning streak with a 12-3 record over the final 15 games. Marquette is 4-6 over the previous ten, including losses in their final two games. These teams are trending in different directions, and the Musketeers need it more. I wouldn't count out a unit led by Kam Jones, but take the hotter team looking to punch their ticket to the Big Dance. 

Next Game: vs. No. 1 St. John's

Quarterfinal: Game 2 Winner vs. (2) Creighton

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BIG EAST QUARTERFINAL: MARCH 13

No. 7 Georgetown vs. No. 2 Creighton

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: FS1

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Prediction: Creighton Over Georgetown

Ed Cooley has the Hoyas headed in the right direction, but their run ends on Thursday night against a Creighton program that overcame the loss of Pop Isaacs to have a strong season. It helps when you have a dominant force in four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Ryan Kalkbrenner, who has put up monster numbers as a senior (19.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.7 BPG). Along with point guard Steven Ashworth (16.8 PPG, 7.0 APG), the Bluejays have a one-two punch that makes them too much to handle for G-Town. Since losing at Georgetown in their Big East opener, Creighton has won 11 straight against the bottom six teams in the conference.

Next Game: vs. No. 6 Villanova/No. 3 UConn Winner

Quarterfinal: Game 3 Winner vs. (3) UConn

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BIG EAST QUARTERFINAL: MARCH 13

No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 3 UConn

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: FS1

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Prediction: Villanova Over UConn

Am I picking on-the-hot-seat Kyle Neptune over two-time defending National Champion Dan Hurley? Something seems off with a UConn team that hasn't made up for the losses from last year's team, which Villanova has exploited this season. The Wildcats upset the Huskies at home and built a 14-point second-half lead at Connecticut, as they appeared to be on their way to a season sweep before a 27-6 run earned UConn a split. According to Hurley, half his team (at least) is already thinking about the portal, and at times, it looks like it. This one should be close, and with their top five in minutes played all shooting over 34 percent from three-point range, Nova hits enough shots to pull off the upset on Thursday night. 

Next Game: vs. No 2 Creighton

Semifinal: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner

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BIG EAST SEMIFINAL: MARCH 14

No. 4 Xavier vs. No. 1 St. John's

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: FOX

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Prediction: St. John's Over Xavier

The Johnnies won their seventh straight game on Thursday, their 17th win out of 18 and 21st out of 23. But don't expect the regular-season Big East champs to look past Xavier. Rick Pitino (have you not watched Vice's Red Storm Rising?) is a man on a mission, and St. John's hasn't made it to the Big East Championship since 2000! This team is hungry, and first-team All-Big East selection Zuby Ejiofor—17 PPG, 10 RPG, 2 BPG vs. the Musketeers—will eat. Xavier lacks the rim protection to keep the Red Storm out of the paint as SJU bullies their way to Saturday night.

Next Game: vs. No. 2 Creighton/No. 6 Villanova Winner

Semifinal: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner

BIG EAST SEMIFINAL: MARCH 14

No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 2 Creighton

Location: Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Where to Watch: FOX

Time: 9:00 p.m. ET

Prediction: Villanova over Creighton

Villanova's three-point prowess—No. 1 in the Big East in three-pointers made (302) and three-point percentage (39.8 percent)—makes them a dangerous underdog. Against Creighton, this makes Ryan Kalbrenner's rim protection less valuable, especially with big man Eric Dixon's (42.9 percent from three) ability to pull the stalwart defender away from the rim. Miami transfer Wooga Poplar is a legit No. 2 and Nova's most versatile player (14.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG). The Wildcats haven't beaten the Bluejays this season but have wins over St. John's, UConn, Xavier, and Marquette. They can play with and beat anyone in this league. 

Next Game: No. 1 St. John's Winner

Final: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner

BIG EAST FINAL: MARCH 15

No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 1 St. John's

Location: Madison Square Garden -New York, NY

Where to Watch: FOX

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Prediction: St. John's over Villanova

Villanova is one of two Big East teams to have handed St. John's a loss this season (Creighton was the other), but that was Finneran Pavillion, and the Johnnies were without guard Deivon Smith. This one will be at Madison Square Garden, where SJU is a perfect 8-0 this season, including a 12-point win over the Wildcats, and expect to have Smith back after he sat out Saturday's win at Marquette. At full strength, led by All-Big East stars RJ Luis Jr., Zuby Ejiofor, and Kadary Richmond, the Red Storm are the class of the conference primed to claim their first Big East Tournament title in 25 years, as well as a No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. 

Next Game: NCAA Tournament