2025–26 Big East Conference men's basketball season

The 2025–26 Big East men's basketball season is the current season for Big East Conference basketball teams that began with practices and exhibition games in October 2025, followed by the start of the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season which began in November 2025. Conference play began in December 2025 and ended in March 2026.

Head coaches

Coaching changes Villanova After three seasons, on March 15, 2025, the Wildcats announced they had fired head coach Kyle Neptune, naming assistant coach Mike Nardi as the interim coach for the team's College Basketball Crown run. On March 30, the school named Maryland head coach Kevin Willard the team's new head coach.

Xavier Following the season, on March 24, 2025, head coach Sean Miller left the Musketeers for a second time to take the head coaching position at Texas. Two days later, the school named New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino the team's new head coach.

Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record Big East record Big East titles NCAA Tournaments NCAA Final Fours NCAA ChampionshipsButlerThad MattaOhio State547–53 (.470)21–39 (.350) 0 0 00UConnDan HurleyRhode Island8130–40 (.765)69–27 (.719) 1 5 2 2CreightonGreg McDermottIowa State16270–141 (.657)137–87 (.612)0 10 00DePaulChris HoltmannOhio State214–20 (.412)4–16 (.200) 0 0 00GeorgetownEd CooleyProvidence327–39 (.409)10–30 (.250) 0 0 00MarquetteShaka SmartTexas598–41 (.705)55–24 (.696) 1 4 00ProvidenceKim EnglishGeorge Mason333–34 (.493)16–24 (.400) 0 0 00Seton HallShaheen HollowaySt. Peter's449–53 (.480)25–35 (.417) 0 0 00St. John'sRick PitinoIona351–18 (.739)29–11 (.725) 1 1 00VillanovaKevin WillardMaryland10–0 (–)0–0 (–)0 0 00XavierRichard PitinoNew Mexico10–0 (–)0–0 (–)0000 Notes: All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2025–26 season. Overall and Big East records are from time at current school only and are through the beginning of the season. McDermott's MVC conference records, Matta's MCC records, Hurley's AAC records not included since team began play in the Big East.

Preseason Preseason Big East poll Prior to the conference's annual media day, conference standings were projected by panel of writers.

RankTeamPoints1.St. John's 97 (7)2.UConn 94 (4)3.Creighton 804.Providence 645.Marquette 606.Georgetown 577.Villanova 508.Xavier 339.DePaul 2910.Butler 2611.Seton Hall 15(first place votes)

Preseason All-Big East A select media panel named a preseason All-Big East team and player of the year.

Honor RecipientPreseason Player of the YearZuby Ejiofor, St. John'sPreseason Freshman of the YearBraylon Mullins, UConnPreseason All-Big East First TeamSolo Ball, UConnAlex Karaban, UConnTarris Reed Jr., UConnOwen Freeman, CreightonChase Ross, MarquetteBryce Hopkins, St. John'sPreseason All-Big East Second TeamSilas Demary Jr., UConnJosh Dix, CreightonKJ Lewis, GeorgetownJason Edwards, ProvidenceIan Jackson, St. John'sPreseason All-Big East Third TeamNik Graves, CreightonJackson McAndrew, CreightonCJ Gunn, DePaulMalik Mack, GeorgetownOswin Erhunmwunse, ProvidenceDillon Mitchell, St. John'sJoson Sanon, St. John's

Preseason All-American teams PlayerAPCBSUSA TodaySports IllustratedSB NationSporting News Zuby Ejiofor, St. John'sRV3rd team2nd team3rd team3rd teamSolo Ball, UConnRV3rd teamAlex Karaban, UConnRV3rd team

Regular season Rankings

+ Legend     Improvement in ranking   Drop in ranking   Not ranked previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll (Italics) Number of first place votes

  Pre/Wk 1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 Wk17 Wk18 Wk19 Wk20 FinalButler AP* CRVRVUConn AP4 (2)3 (3)3 (2)555544*43223656467 2C43375554444333556467 2Creighton AP2323RVRV* C2323RVRV DePaul AP*CGeorgetown APRVRVRV* CRVRVRVMarquette AP*C Providence AP*CSeton Hall APRVRVRVRVRV*RV25CRVRVRVRVRVRVRVSt. John's AP5131414232222RVRV*RVRV252217171518131010C6111615222120RV25RVRV25242217161517139 10Villanova APRVRV*RVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVCRVRV24RVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVXavier AP*C *AP did not release a week 9 poll.

Early Season Tournaments Eight out of the 11 Big East teams participated in traditional early-season bracketed tournaments. The three schools that didn't were UConn, Marquette and Villanova, with the former vowing to never participate in one ever again following the Huskies' disappointing 8th-place finish in the 2024 Maui Invitational. Team Tournament FinishButlerGreenbrier Tip-Off1stCreightonPlayers Era FestivalWon consolation gameDePaul Emerald Coast Classic2ndGeorgetownESPN Events Invitational4thProvidenceRady Children's Invitational4thSeton HallMaui Invitational3rdSt. John'sPlayers Era FestivalLost consolation gameXavierCharleston Classic3rd

Big East Players of the Week Throughout the conference regular season, the Big East offices named one or two players of the week and one or two freshmen of the week each Monday. Week Date Player of the week School Freshman of the week School1November 10, 2025 Zuby Ejiofor St. John's Stefan Vaaks Providence2 November 17, 2025 Alex Karaban UConn Acaden Lewis Villanova3 November 24, 2025 Michael Ajayi Butler Eric Reibe UConn4 December 1, 2025 AJ Staton-McCray Seton Hall Acaden Lewis (2) Villanova5 December 8, 2025 Tre Carroll Xavier Braylon Mullins UConn6 December 15, 2025 Michael Ajayi (2) Butler Acaden Lewis (3) Villanova7 December 22, 2025 Stephon Payne Seton Hall Matt Hodge8 December 29, 2025 Josh Dix Creighton Acaden Lewis (4)9 January 5, 2026 Zuby Ejiofor (2) St. John's Jamier Jones Providence10 January 12, 2026 Silas Demary Jr. UConn Braylon Mullins (2) UConn11 January 19, 2026 CJ Gunn DePaul Stefan Vaaks (2) Providence12 January 26, 2026 Finley Bizjack Butler Nigel James Jr. Marquette13 February 2, 2026 Budd Clark Seton Hall Nigel James Jr. (2)14 February 9, 2026 Jaylin Sellers Providence Acaden Lewis (5) Villanova15 February 16, 2026 Solo Ball UConn Nigel James Jr. (3) Marquette16 February 23, 2026 Bryce Hopkins St. John's Braylon Mullins (3) UConn17 March 2, 2026 Jaylin Sellers (2) Providence Nigel James Jr. (4) Marquette18 March 8, 2026 Zuby Ejiofor (3) St. John's Nigel James Jr. (5) Marquette

Conference matrix This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play. Each team is scheduled to play 20 conference games, playing one game at home and one game on the road against each opponent.

  ButlerUConnCreightonDePaulGeorgetownMarquetteProvidenceSeton HallSt. John'sVillanovaXaviervs. Butler – 2–02–00–21–11–11–11–12–02–01–1vs. UConn0–2 – 1–10–20–21–10–20–21–10–20–2vs. Creighton0–21–1 – 2–01–11–12–01–12–01–10–2vs. DePaul2–02–00–2 – 1–10–22–00–22–02–01–1vs. Georgetown1–12–01–11–1 – 1–10–22–02–02–02–0vs. Marquette1–11–11–12–01–1 – 0–22–02–02–01–1vs. Providence1–12–00–20–22–02–0 – 2–01–12–01–1vs. Seton Hall1–12–01–12–00–20–20–2 – 2–02–00–2vs. St. John's0–21–10–20–20–20–21–10–2 – 0–20–2vs. Villanova0–22–01–10–20–20–20–20–22–0 – 0–2vs. Xavier1–12–02–01–10–21–11–12–02–02–0 –Total7–1317–39–118–126–147–137–1310–1018–215–56–14

Honors and awards Individual awards 2026 Big East Men's Basketball Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor, St. John'sCoach of the Year Shaheen Holloway, Seton HallDefensive Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’sFreshman of the Year Nigel James Jr., MarquetteMost Improved Player of the Year Tyler Perkins, VillanovaSixth Man Award Devin Askew, VillanovaSportsmanship Award Josh Dix, Creighton

All-Big East teams 2026 Big East Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Freshman Team Defensive TeamMichael Ajayi, ButlerSilas Demary Jr., UConnAlex Karaban, UConnTarris Reed, UConn†Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’sTre Carroll, XavierSolo Ball, UConnJaylin Sellers, ProvidenceBryce Hopkins, St. John'sBudd Clark, Seton HallAcaden Lewis, VillanovaFinley Bizjack, ButlerKJ Lewis, GeorgetownNigel James Jr., MarquetteDillon Mitchell, St. John'sDuke Brennan, VillanovaTyler Perkins, Villanova†Braylon Mullins, UConn†Nigel James Jr., MarquetteJamier Jones, Providence†Stefan Vaaks, Providence†Acaden Lewis, Villanova†Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’sBudd Clark, Seton HallDillon Mitchell, St. John'sSilas Demary Jr., UConnChase Ross, Marquette † - denotes unanimous selection

Postseason Big East Tournament

NCAA tournament

Seed Region School First round Second round Sweet 16 Elite Eight Final Four Championship 2 East UConn W 82–71 vs. Furman W 73–57 vs. UCLA W 67–63 vs. Michigan State W 73–72 vs. Duke W 71–62 vs. Illinois L 63–69 vs. Michigan 5 East St. John's W 79–53 vs. Northern Iowa W 67–65 vs. Kansas L 75–80 vs. Duke 8 West Villanova L 76–86 vs. Utah State W–L (%):Total:

CBC

School Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Creighton W 82–69 vs. Rutgers L 70–87 vs. West Virginia W–L (%):1–0 ()0–1 ()0–0 ()Total:

NIT

No Big East teams participated in 2026.

References