00:00Spring is in the air, which means that Big East basketball is back at the Garden.
00:05The conference tournament kicks off Wednesday.
00:07Who's going to win it all, y'all?
00:08St. John's, UConn, or is the sleeper team going to step up and take the throne?
00:13Let's talk some Big East basketball in the tournament with our college basketball writer
00:16and co-host of Eye of the Red Storm, Zach Braziller.
00:20Zach, what's going on, my man?
00:22There's pollen outside at other people's garden, so let's go inside to the Garden to watch some basketball.
00:27I just kind of created that just now, so you guys can laugh if you want.
00:32The Johnnies took the regular season title, but MSG is considered Storrs South.
00:38So which team do you feel like is under the most pressure to win the Big East tournament, UConn or
00:44St. John's, and why?
00:46I'll go UConn.
00:50They've been a top 10 team all year.
00:54They didn't win the league title.
00:55It was a surprise, so I'm going UConn just because there's more pressure.
01:03We got to see this UConn team respond after a little, some shaky play here over the last month.
01:11You feel like Patino's guys have a little pressure on them to take, to sweep it, not only win the
01:17regular season title,
01:18but to go and take the tournament title as well?
01:22Look, they obviously want to win the league title.
01:27There's no question about it.
01:31But I think there's more on UConn here to win this conference tournament.
01:38Look, Patino wants to win everything.
01:40There's no doubt.
01:42I just think when you consider that UConn is the team that people thought is a national title contender,
01:50there's a little more pressure on them to win it all here.
01:54For St. John's, how do you think winning the tournament title versus not winning the tournament title
02:02affects their seeding for March Madness?
02:08Look, I think there are five right now.
02:11Could they be a four if they win this tournament?
02:16Possibly.
02:16But I don't think a lot will change for St. John's if they win this tournament.
02:23Four or five is probably what they're looking at.
02:26Right now, I think there are five.
02:28They beat UConn in the Big East final.
02:31Could they be a four?
02:32Four, possibly.
02:34But I don't see there being a huge difference if they win this title here.
02:42All right.
02:42Both those teams are the Goliaths in this Big East tournament.
02:46But who are some of the Davids that we should keep an eye out on?
02:50Who are some of your sleepers that you feel like can make some noise and win this tournament?
02:57Keep an eye on Seton Hall.
02:58Look, they're really tough.
03:00If they make shots, I think there's a possibility for them to win this title.
03:08Look, they've played UConn in St. John's really tough four times.
03:12They just don't make shots.
03:14They have to make shots to win this tournament here.
03:18How many teams do you think will represent the Big East in the NCAA tournament?
03:26And why?
03:27Three.
03:28Three.
03:28Three.
03:29St. John's, UConn, Villanova.
03:32Unless there's a big stealer here in this tournament, unless you get someone else outside of the top three.
03:39Wasn't a great year for the Big East.
03:43No question about it.
03:46But I know the league would love someone other than the Big Three to win this tournament here.
03:53All right.
03:53We haven't done this in a long time, but let's take these folks, Zach, to school.
03:57Let's get your final thoughts going into the Big East tournament.
04:03Look, I'd be surprised if it's not St. John's, UConn in the final.
04:09They're the two best teams in the league.
04:11They were the two best teams by far all year.
04:15I think we'll get Saturday night UConn, St. John's for a third time.
04:22All right.
04:22Zach Brazilla, appreciate you hopping on with this, my man.
04:25All right, buddy.
04:26Have a good one.
04:30All right.
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