Kevin Kugler and John Thompson called all the highlights, as the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 74-72 in the Big East Championship game. (Photo by Elsa | Getty Images)

Kevin Kugler and John Thompson called all the highlights, as the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 74-72 in the Big East Championship game. (Photo by Elsa | Getty Images)

Westwood One Sports brings you live play-by-play of college football, college basketball (including the Men's and Women's NCAA tournaments) and several other NCAA championship events throughout the year.

NCAA on Westwood One Sports

Big East Championship Highlights Recap

Episode 11

SEGMENT 1 (8:10) – John & Kevin welcome you to Season 12, Episode 11 of This Week in the Big East! Our final episode of the season comes to you from the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, home of the Big East Tournament! The St. John’s Red Storm enter the Big East Tournament as the #1 seed winning back-to-back Big East regular season titles for the first time in 40 years. UConn finished the regular season second in the standings and Villanova third, both teams firmly in the NCAA Tournament field. Seton Hall finished in fourth position in the Big East standings and still has work to do heading into Big East Tournament play to try to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament field.

SEGMENT 2 (@8:10) – Big East Spotlight: Seton Hall Head Coach – Shaheen Holloway: John and Kevin welcome Big East Coach of the Year, Shaheen Holloway of Seton Hall into This Week in the Big East from Madison Square Garden. The Pirates were picked dead last in a pre-season coaches’ poll and ended up finishing in fourth position. In addition, Seton Hall had a 13-win improvement from last season and remain alive for an NCAA Tournament birth heading into the Big East Tournament. Coach Holloway tells us just how special it was for him to be considered Coach of the Year by his peers and what his goals are for the Pirates in March.

SEGMENT 3 (@17:20) – Who’s Hot:  John and Kevin run through the weekly awards for the Big East Conference as well as the Big East Honor Roll! In our Big East “Blast from the Past”, we turn the clock back to 2011 when “Cardiac Kemba” was born. March 10th, 2011, was the Kemba Walker shot heard around the world. His buzzer-beater began a run of UConn winning 5 games in 5 days to secure a Big East Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament bid. Connecticut then won 6 more games in a row in the NCAA Tournament to win the National Championship.

SEGMENT 4 (@26:40) – Big East Focus: – St. John’s Center – Zuby Ejiofor: John and Kevin welcome back St. John’s senior center, Zuby Ejiofor into This Week in the Big East, but this time as the Big East Conference Player of the Year! Zuby helped guide the Red Storm to back-to-back Big East Regular Season Titles and put up 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game this season. In addition to his outstanding offensive work, Ejiofor was also named Big East Defensive Player of the Year for his role as one of the nation’s best shot blockers.

SEGMENT 5 (@33:20) – The National Perspective: WNBC NY Sports Anchor – Bruce Beck: Kevin and John are joined by Big East Media Award Winner, Bruce Beck of WNBC New York. Bruce is a well-respected New York sports anchor and reporter and gives us his firsthand accounts of the special season had by St. John’s. Bruce also breaks down the stellar play of Big East Player of the Year, Zuby Ejiofor and gives his overall perspective on where the Big East stacks up heading into the NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday.    

SEGMENT 6 (@41:20) – Who’s Got Next?  John & Kevin wrap up the 11th and final episode of This Week in the Big East for the 2025-26 season by previewing the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden and breaking down what each Big East contender must do in order to quality for the NCAA tournament.

Episode 11
SEGMENT 1 (8:10) &ndash; John &amp; Kevin welcome you to Season 12, Episode 11 of This Week in the Big East! Our final episode of the season comes to you from the world&rsquo;s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, home of the Big East Tournament! The St. John&rsquo;s Red Storm enter the Big East Tournament as the #1 seed winning back-to-back Big East regular season titles for the first time in 40 years. UConn finished the regular season second in the standings and Villanova third, both teams firmly in the NCAA Tournament field. Seton Hall finished in fourth position in the Big East standings and still has work to do heading into Big East Tournament play to try to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament field.
SEGMENT 2 (@8:10) &ndash; Big East Spotlight: Seton Hall Head Coach &ndash; Shaheen Holloway: John and Kevin welcome Big East Coach of the Year, Shaheen Holloway of Seton Hall into This Week in the Big East from Madison Square Garden. The Pirates were picked dead last in a pre-season coaches&rsquo; poll and ended up finishing in fourth position. In addition, Seton Hall had a 13-win improvement from last season and remain alive for an NCAA Tournament birth heading into the Big East Tournament. Coach Holloway tells us just how special it was for him to be considered Coach of the Year by his peers and what his goals are for the Pirates in March.
SEGMENT 3 (@17:20) &ndash; Who&rsquo;s Hot:&nbsp; John and Kevin run through the weekly awards for the Big East Conference as well as the Big East Honor Roll! In our Big East &ldquo;Blast from the Past&rdquo;, we turn the clock back to 2011 when &ldquo;Cardiac Kemba&rdquo; was born. March 10th, 2011, was the Kemba Walker shot heard around the world. His buzzer-beater began a run of UConn winning 5 games in 5 days to secure a Big East Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament bid. Connecticut then won 6 more games in a row in the NCAA Tournament to win the National Championship.
SEGMENT 4 (@26:40) &ndash; Big East Focus: &ndash; St. John&rsquo;s Center &ndash; Zuby Ejiofor: John and Kevin welcome back St. John&rsquo;s senior center, Zuby Ejiofor into This Week in the Big East, but this time as the Big East Conference Player of the Year! Zuby helped guide the Red Storm to back-to-back Big East Regular Season Titles and put up 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game this season. In addition to his outstanding offensive work, Ejiofor was also named Big East Defensive Player of the Year for his role as one of the nation&rsquo;s best shot blockers.
SEGMENT 5 (@33:20) &ndash; The National Perspective: WNBC NY Sports Anchor &ndash; Bruce Beck: Kevin and John are joined by Big East Media Award Winner, Bruce Beck of WNBC New York. Bruce is a well-respected New York sports anchor and reporter and gives us his firsthand accounts of the special season had by St. John&rsquo;s. Bruce also breaks down the stellar play of Big East Player of the Year, Zuby Ejiofor and gives his overall perspective on where the Big East stacks up heading into the NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
SEGMENT 6 (@41:20) &ndash; Who&rsquo;s Got Next?&nbsp; John &amp; Kevin wrap up the 11th and final episode of This Week in the Big East for the 2025-26 season by previewing the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden and breaking down what each Big East contender must do in order to quality for the NCAA tournament.

TWITBE: Shaheen Holloway, Zuby Ejiofor and Bruce Beck

This Week in the Big East (2025-26) 

Episode 10

SEGMENT 1 – John & Kevin welcome you to Season 12, Episode 10 of This Week in the Big East! As we head into the final weekend of Big East regular season play, we still do not have a definitive champion in the Big East. Connecticut and St. John’s are tied for the top spot. The Red Storm will travel to Seton Hall Friday night and the Huskies will travel to Marquette on Saturday. Villanova in all likelihood has sealed a birth in the NCAA Tournament, while Seton Hall sits firmly on the bubble heading down the home stretch.

SEGMENT 2 (@6:00) – Big East Spotlight: Connecticut Head Coach – Dan Hurley: John and Kevin welcome Connecticut head coach, Dan Hurley into This Week in the Big East. Coach Hurley gives an honest account of his team’s performance so far this season as they look to secure Big East regular season, Big East Tournament, and NCAA Tournament titles. Coach also has a book out titled, “Never Stop”, that he co-wrote with New York Times bestselling Author, Ian O’Connor. UConn celebrated Alex Karaban last week on senior day and Coach Hurley opens up about relationship with Karaban and what he has meant to the Connecticut program.  

SEGMENT 3 (@15:45) – Who’s Hot:  John and Kevin run through the weekly awards for the Big East Conference as well as the Big East Honor Roll! In our Big East “Blast from the Past”, we turn the clock back to 1991, 35 years ago this week when 4-seed Seton Hall watched the three teams seeded above them all lose on quarterfinal Thursday! Syracuse, St. John’s, and UConn all losing paved the way for the Pirates led by the MVP play of Oliver Taylor to win the Big East Tournament Title.

SEGMENT 4 (@19:30 12:39) – Big East Focus: – Big East Commissioner – Val Ackerman: John and Kevin welcome Commissioner Ackerman once again into This Week in the Big East to preview the 44th playing of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Commissioner Ackerman also gives a state of the conference report on some potential scheduling changes coming next season and beyond. With the landscape of college athletics changing by the day, the Big East continues to be at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to innovation and enhancements to college basketball.

SEGMENT 5 (@32:00) – The National Perspective: NBC/Peacock Basketball Analyst – Jordan Cornette: Kevin and John are joined by NBC and Peacock Television Analyst, Jordan Cornette to discuss his impressions of Big East Conference play this season and who he thinks could open eyes during the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Cornette also provides a touching story on the Big East Legends program and how it has personally impacted him and his family in a profoundly positive way.  

SEGMENT 6 (@42:10) – Who’s Got Next?  John & Kevin wrap up the tenth episode of This Week in the Big East for the 2025-26 season by previewing the final weekend of regular season play in the Big East Conference! It’s hard to believe that March is here, but the Big East regular season champion will be decided this weekend during the St. John’s at Seton Hall and UConn at Marquette games on Friday and Saturday respectively.

This Week in the Big East (2025-26) 
Episode 10
SEGMENT 1 &ndash; John &amp; Kevin welcome you to Season 12, Episode 10 of This Week in the Big East! As we head into the final weekend of Big East regular season play, we still do not have a definitive champion in the Big East. Connecticut and St. John&rsquo;s are tied for the top spot. The Red Storm will travel to Seton Hall Friday night and the Huskies will travel to Marquette on Saturday. Villanova in all likelihood has sealed a birth in the NCAA Tournament, while Seton Hall sits firmly on the bubble heading down the home stretch.
SEGMENT 2 (@6:00) &ndash; Big East Spotlight: Connecticut Head Coach &ndash; Dan Hurley: John and Kevin welcome Connecticut head coach, Dan Hurley into This Week in the Big East. Coach Hurley gives an honest account of his team&rsquo;s performance so far this season as they look to secure Big East regular season, Big East Tournament, and NCAA Tournament titles. Coach also has a book out titled, &ldquo;Never Stop&rdquo;, that he co-wrote with New York Times bestselling Author, Ian O&rsquo;Connor. UConn celebrated Alex Karaban last week on senior day and Coach Hurley opens up about relationship with Karaban and what he has meant to the Connecticut program. &nbsp;
SEGMENT 3 (@15:45) &ndash; Who&rsquo;s Hot:&nbsp; John and Kevin run through the weekly awards for the Big East Conference as well as the Big East Honor Roll! In our Big East &ldquo;Blast from the Past&rdquo;, we turn the clock back to 1991, 35 years ago this week when 4-seed Seton Hall watched the three teams seeded above them all lose on quarterfinal Thursday! Syracuse, St. John&rsquo;s, and UConn all losing paved the way for the Pirates led by the MVP play of Oliver Taylor to win the Big East Tournament Title.
SEGMENT 4 (@19:30 12:39) &ndash; Big East Focus: &ndash; Big East Commissioner &ndash; Val Ackerman: John and Kevin welcome Commissioner Ackerman once again into This Week in the Big East to preview the 44th playing of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Commissioner Ackerman also gives a state of the conference report on some potential scheduling changes coming next season and beyond. With the landscape of college athletics changing by the day, the Big East continues to be at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to innovation and enhancements to college basketball.
SEGMENT 5 (@32:00) &ndash; The National Perspective: NBC/Peacock Basketball Analyst &ndash; Jordan Cornette: Kevin and John are joined by NBC and Peacock Television Analyst, Jordan Cornette to discuss his impressions of Big East Conference play this season and who he thinks could open eyes during the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Cornette also provides a touching story on the Big East Legends program and how it has personally impacted him and his family in a profoundly positive way. &nbsp;
SEGMENT 6 (@42:10) &ndash; Who&rsquo;s Got Next?&nbsp; John &amp; Kevin wrap up the tenth episode of This Week in the Big East for the 2025-26 season by previewing the final weekend of regular season play in the Big East Conference! It&rsquo;s hard to believe that March is here, but the Big East regular season champion will be decided this weekend during the St. John&rsquo;s at Seton Hall and UConn at Marquette games on Friday and Saturday respectively.

TWITBE: Dan Hurley, Val Ackerman, Jordan Cornette

Episode 9

SEGMENT 1 – John & Kevin welcome you to Season 12, Episode 9 of This Week in the Big East! The Connecticut Huskies exacted their revenge over the St. John’s Red Storm on Wednesday night in Hartford. UConn beat St. John’s in stunning fashion, 72-40 holding the Red Storm without a made basket for the final 17:20 of the game! The victory moved Connecticut back atop the Big East standings by a ½ game in the win column and snapped St. John’s 13-game winning streak. Villanova remains securely in third position at 13-4 in conference play while the real parody has proven to be in the middle portion of the league standings. 

SEGMENT 2 (@7:25) – Big East Spotlight: Creighton Head Coach – Greg McDermott: John and Kevin welcome Creighton Head Coach, Greg McDermott into This Week in the Big East. Coach McDermott joins the show to discuss his team’s uneven performance this season. The Blue Jays can beat any team in the league on any given night; however, they have suffered their share of heartbreaking losses such as at home to DePaul this week. Coach McDermott discusses the prospects for his team moving forward as they look to be dangerous at the Big East Tournament.

SEGMENT 3 (@19:30) – Who’s Hot:  John and Kevin run through the weekly awards for the Big East Conference as well as the Big East Honor Roll! In our Big East “Blast from the Past”, we turn the clock back to March 3rd, 1999, when St. John’s and UConn met in the Big East Championship game. This week’s game was the 10th all-time between the two schools with both teams nationally ranked. 27 years ago this week, the #3 Huskies had their way with the #10 Red Storm winning 82-63 on their way to an eventual National Championship.

SEGMENT 4 (@24:35) – Big East Focus: – DePaul Senior Center – NJ Benson: John and Kevin welcome DePaul senior center, NJ Benson into This Week in the Big East. Benson is in his second season in Chicago following a transfer from Missouri State. This season he is averaging over 11 points and 7 rebounds per game for coach Chris Holtmann. Benson touches on how the Blue Demons have improved from last season and what they look to accomplish in March.

SEGMENT 5 (@35:15) – The National Perspective: Fox/Peacock and St. John’s Basketball Analyst – Vin Parise: Kevin and John are joined by Fox and Peacock Television Analyst, and St. John’s Radio Color Analyst, Vin Parise.  Parise joins the show to talk about St. John’s stunning blowout loss at Connecticut Wednesday night and to speculate on just where the teams in the Big East Conference will stack up as we head toward the Big East Tournament.

SEGMENT 6 (@41:40) – Who’s Got Next?  John & Kevin wrap up the ninth episode of This Week in the Big East for the 2025-26 season by previewing four Big East Conference matchups this Saturday. The Saturday slate features pivotal games such as Seton Hall at UConn at Noon and Villanova at St. John’s at 8PM.  

Episode 9
SEGMENT 1 &ndash; John &amp; Kevin welcome you to Season 12, Episode 9 of This Week in the Big East! The Connecticut Huskies exacted their revenge over the St. John&rsquo;s Red Storm on Wednesday night in Hartford. UConn beat St. John&rsquo;s in stunning fashion, 72-40 holding the Red Storm without a made basket for the final 17:20 of the game! The victory moved Connecticut back atop the Big East standings by a &frac12; game in the win column and snapped St. John&rsquo;s 13-game winning streak. Villanova remains securely in third position at 13-4 in conference play while the real parody has proven to be in the middle portion of the league standings.&nbsp;
SEGMENT 2 (@7:25) &ndash; Big East Spotlight:&nbsp;Creighton Head Coach &ndash; Greg McDermott: John and Kevin welcome Creighton Head Coach, Greg McDermott into This Week in the Big East. Coach McDermott joins the show to discuss his team&rsquo;s uneven performance this season. The Blue Jays can beat any team in the league on any given night; however, they have suffered their share of heartbreaking losses such as at home to DePaul this week. Coach McDermott discusses the prospects for his team moving forward as they look to be dangerous at the Big East Tournament.
SEGMENT 3 (@19:30) &ndash; Who&rsquo;s Hot:&nbsp; John and Kevin run through the weekly awards for the Big East Conference as well as the Big East Honor Roll! In our Big East &ldquo;Blast from the Past&rdquo;, we turn the clock back to March 3rd, 1999, when St. John&rsquo;s and UConn met in the Big East Championship game. This week&rsquo;s game was the 10th all-time between the two schools with both teams nationally ranked. 27 years ago this week, the #3 Huskies had their way with the #10 Red Storm winning 82-63 on their way to an eventual National Championship.
SEGMENT 4 (@24:35) &ndash; Big East Focus: &ndash;&nbsp;DePaul Senior Center &ndash; NJ Benson: John and Kevin welcome DePaul senior center, NJ Benson into This Week in the Big East. Benson is in his second season in Chicago following a transfer from Missouri State. This season he is averaging over 11 points and 7 rebounds per game for coach Chris Holtmann. Benson touches on how the Blue Demons have improved from last season and what they look to accomplish in March.
SEGMENT 5 (@35:15) &ndash; The National Perspective:&nbsp;Fox/Peacock and St. John&rsquo;s Basketball Analyst &ndash; Vin Parise: Kevin and John are joined by Fox and Peacock Television Analyst, and St. John&rsquo;s Radio Color Analyst, Vin Parise. &nbsp;Parise joins the show to talk about St. John&rsquo;s stunning blowout loss at Connecticut Wednesday night and to speculate on just where the teams in the Big East Conference will stack up as we head toward the Big East Tournament.
SEGMENT 6 (@41:40) &ndash; Who&rsquo;s Got Next?&nbsp; John &amp; Kevin wrap up the ninth episode of This Week in the Big East for the 2025-26 season by previewing four Big East Conference matchups this Saturday. The Saturday slate features pivotal games such as Seton Hall at UConn at Noon and Villanova at St. John&rsquo;s at 8PM. &nbsp;

Big East Championship Highlights Recap

NCAA on Westwood One Sports

In 1 playlist(s)

NCAA on Westwood One Sports

Follow podcast

Recent clips