Summary
The St. John’s Red Storm return to the spotlight at Madison Square Garden on Friday with a chance to move within one win of repeating as champions of the Big East Conference tournament.
As the tournament’s No. 1 seed, St. John’s enters the semifinal matchup against the Seton Hall Pirates with momentum after a convincing quarterfinal victory over Providence. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on Fox Broadcasting Company.
For St. John’s, the semifinal represents another step in what has already been one of the program’s strongest seasons in recent years.
Red Storm riding momentum into semifinals
Led by veteran coach Rick Pitino, St. John’s has established itself as the team to beat in the conference this season.
The Red Storm finished the regular season 26–6 overall and 18–2 in conference play, earning the tournament’s top seed. Their balanced style of play has helped them dominate many opponents, combining a productive offense with a defense capable of limiting scoring runs.
Statistically, St. John’s holds a significant edge in scoring. The team averages 82.0 points per game, ranking among the better offensive teams in Division I basketball. On defense, they allow 70.6 points per contest, giving them an overall scoring margin of +11.4 points per game.
That margin has translated into a +364 scoring differential over the course of the season, a sign of the consistency the Red Storm have maintained throughout the year.
Despite their offensive success, St. John’s relies less on long-range shooting than many modern teams. They average 7.1 three-pointers per game, connecting at a 33.5% rate, while limiting opponents to 6.4 made threes per game.
Seton Hall emerges as tournament spoiler
Standing in their way Friday is a Seton Hall team that has quietly built momentum during the tournament.
The Pirates advanced to the semifinals after defeating Creighton Bluejays in the quarterfinal round. After a tightly contested first half, Seton Hall pulled away in the second to secure a 72–61 victory.
While they entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, the Pirates have shown they are capable of upsetting higher-ranked teams.
Seton Hall’s season record of 21–11 overall and 10–10 in conference play reflects a team built primarily around defense.
The Pirates allow just 64.9 points per game, ranking among the best defensive teams in college basketball. Their offense, however, has been less explosive, averaging 70.4 points per game.
Their season scoring margin stands at +5.5 points per game, with a total differential of +175.
One of the team’s biggest challenges against St. John’s could be outside shooting. Seton Hall averages only 4.8 three-pointers per game, one of the lowest totals in Division I basketball, while opponents average 7.3 per contest against them.
Betting odds favor St. John’s
Oddsmakers have installed St. John’s as the clear favorite entering the semifinal matchup.
According to BetMGM odds, the Red Storm are 8.5-point favorites, with a moneyline of -398, while Seton Hall sits at +298 on the moneyline.
The over/under for the game is set at 135.5 points, reflecting expectations for a moderately paced contest between a strong offensive team and a defense-oriented opponent.
A chance at another title run
For St. John’s, Friday’s game carries significant stakes beyond simply advancing to the final.
A victory would put the Red Storm one step away from capturing back-to-back Big East tournament championships, reinforcing their resurgence under Pitino and strengthening their résumé heading into the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Seton Hall, meanwhile, has the opportunity to play spoiler and reach the conference title game for the first time in several seasons.
With both teams familiar with the pressure of postseason basketball — and the iconic stage of Madison Square Garden — the semifinal promises a high-stakes battle for a spot in the championship game.
