Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsFriday, July 3, 2026

2016 Big East Tournament schedule and bracket: Seton Hall stuns Villanova

Seton Hall has won its first Big East championship since 1993.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Villanova is gunning for a top seed at the NCAA Tournament. To get there, the Wildcats are going to have to go through Big East Player of the Year Kris Dunn and Providence College.

Dunn’s Friar team already has a road win over Villanova on its resume, but a second victory over one of the nation’s elite teams would bury the narrative that the Friars are stumbling into the postseason. Providence suffered through a rough patch in which it lost five out of six games, including an inexplicable defeat at the hands of nine-win DePaul, but the dominant combination of Dunn and forward Ben Bentil have the team trending upwards. The Friars have won four straight games since backsliding down to the NCAA Tournament bubble.

Villanova hasn’t had to deal with the same struggles. The Wildcats have sustained winning streaks of seven, nine, and seven games en route to a 27-4 record this winter. A balanced lineup with five different players who average double-digit scoring and the rangy inside-out game of Josh Hart have pushed this team to college basketball’s top tier. Two more wins will lock down a No. 1 seed, but they won’t be easy.

Bracket

You can keep up with the Big East Tournament bracket, schedule and scores here.

Schedule (all times Eastern)

Thursday, March 10 (Quarterfinals)

Game 3: No. 1 Villanova 81, No. 8 Georgetown 67
Game 4: No. 4 Providence 74, No. 5 Butler 60
Game 5: No. 2 Xavier 90, No. 7 Marquette 72
Game 6: No. 3 Seton Hall 81, No. 6 Creighton 73

Friday, March 11 (Semifinals)

Game 7: No. 1 Villanova 76, No. 4 Providence 68
Game 8: No. 3 Seton Hall 87, No. 2 Xavier 83

Saturday, March 12 (Finals)

Game 9: No. 3 Seton Hall 69, No. 1 Villanova 67

* * *

Greatest NCAA Cinderella: Is it 1983 NC State or 2010 Butler?

Be sure to subscribe to SB Nation's YouTube channel for highlight videos, features, analysis and more

Men's College Basketball
Dusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yetDusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yet
Men's College Basketball

How will Michigan recover from losing Dusty May?

By Mike Rutherford
Men's College Basketball
Dallas Mavericks instant grade for Dusty May’s stunning hire as team’s next head coachDallas Mavericks instant grade for Dusty May’s stunning hire as team’s next head coach
Men's College Basketball

Let’s grade the Mavs’ decision to hire Dusty May away from Michigan.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
Caleb Wilson is chasing greatness in the NBA Draft, and he’s ready to save your franchiseCaleb Wilson is chasing greatness in the NBA Draft, and he’s ready to save your franchise
NBA

Inside the making of Caleb Wilson, the NBA Draft’s ultimate upside swing

By Ricky O'Donnell
Men's College Basketball
College basketball top-25 rankings for men’s 2026-27 season updated after NBA Draft withdrawalsCollege basketball top-25 rankings for men’s 2026-27 season updated after NBA Draft withdrawals
Men's College Basketball

Here’s our updated men’s college basketball top-25 for next season.

By Mike Rutherford
Men's College Basketball
St. John’s massive NIL payment revealed after Tounde Yessoufou chooses transfer portal over NBA DraftSt. John’s massive NIL payment revealed after Tounde Yessoufou chooses transfer portal over NBA Draft
Men's College Basketball

The money in men’s college basketball is stunning right now.

By Ricky O'Donnell