The Big East tournament is UConn’s event to lose.
The Huskies lost twice in conference play to the Seton Hall Pirates in the league opener on December 20 and to Creighton on February 20.
UConn should cruise through its portion of the bracket, but which team it faces in the semifinals matters to the NCAA tournament.
Seton Hall is comfortably on the “Last Four Byes” line in the latest bracket update from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. St. John’s enters New York on the “Last Four In” line.
The Pirates won both meetings with the Red Storm and a win would erase any doubt about their Big Dance status. St. John’s would have a sweaty few days if it loses to Seton Hall. Both teams are expected to lose to UConn if they reach the semifinals.
Villanova and Providence need to avoid bad losses in the first round to the DePaul Blue Demons and Georgetown Hoyas to have a shot at Marquette and Creighton.
The Wildcats and Friars were the first two teams out in Lunardi’s latest projection. Marquette, the reigning Big East tournament champion, may be more susceptible to an upset in New York because it is dealing with some injuries right now. Tyler Kolek missed the last two regular-season games with an oblique injury.
A semifinal win would likely put Villanova or Providence into the field of 68, but neither team has been good enough to match UConn if they make a surprise run to the final.
Creighton, who won seven of its last eight games, is UConn’s top threat in terms of form, head-to-head record and health.
Even then, the Bluejays could struggle against the Huskies in what would feel like a road game on Saturday night inside Madison Square Garden.
Projection: UConn over Creighton
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