Updated March 12, 2026
The Big East Tournament continues Friday night with a rivalry game between Seton Hall and St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. These programs have already faced each other twice this season, and both meetings produced competitive basketball before St. John’s pulled away late. With a spot in the conference championship game on the line, the stakes are much higher for the third Seton Hall vs St. John's matchup of the season.
St. John’s enters this semifinal with a 26-6 record and the momentum of a dominant quarterfinal win over Providence. The Red Storm defeated the Friars 85-72, controlling the glass and dictating the pace throughout the game. That victory continued a remarkable stretch in which the team has won 17 of its last 18 contests, showing the balance and consistency that have defined this season.
Seton Hall advanced after knocking off Creighton in the quarterfinal round, keeping its postseason hopes alive with a 72-61 victory. The Pirates relied heavily on defense and timely scoring runs in the second half to close out that game. Their ability to slow down opposing offenses has been a major strength throughout the season.
Stat | St. John’s | Seton Hall |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 81.9 | 70.4 |
Points allowed per game | 70.6 | 64.8 |
Team Field Goal % | 45% | 44% |
Rebounds per game | 38.7 | 35.7 |
Assists per game | 16.4 | 13.0 |
St. John’s has already shown it can solve Seton Hall’s defense, and the offensive difference between these teams is significant. The Red Storm averages more than 80 points per game and moves the ball well with over 16 assists per contest. That balance makes them difficult to slow down across a full 40 minutes.
Seton Hall will attempt to grind this game down with defense and rebounding, which has helped keep both previous meetings competitive. I think that they will do a good enough job of keeping this game competitive to cover the spread, while St. John's should win the game and advance to the Big East title game on their home floor.
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