Hoop Dreams NYC

Here is our first Big East Column of the 2025-26 season. In this column, we focus mostly on the tri-state area Big East teams and beyond throughout the season. This week we reflect on how the local teams did during feast week which is a pivotal time during the early part of the college basketball season.

Featured Photo Credit by Ishka Samant / Getty Images

Seton Hall is Coming For All Naysayers’ Necks 

The Pirates proved that their 5-0 start was no fluke as they finished their Maui Invitational trip with a 2-1 record with wins against NC State and Washington State. The Pirates definitely could have been in the Maui Invitational championship against Arizona State if certain things went right against a very good USC squad in the semifinals but all we know going forward is that the Apologies towards Shaheen Holloway and his squad should be louder than the disrespect in those preseason polls. 

St. John’s Vegas Trip Comes With Harsh Lessons

The 14th ranked St. John’s Red Storm probably are in the same state they were last year when they were in the Bahamas when they went 1-2 but the same glaring issues since the Alabama game has been very concerning. Defense at the guard position and crashing the defensive glass in their losses to Iowa State and Auburn have the Red Storm looking funny in the light. It’s frustrating if you are a St. John’s fan because both games were winnable. Take away the 22 second chance points St. John’s is likely going home 2-1 cant to much about the loss to Auburn because it was winnable given that they had a good lead but SEC guards like Tahaad Pettiford are DIFFERENT and with a loss like that it’s another reality check they need before  they face Ole Miss on December 6th. The Johnnie’s have enough time to get right so future opposing teams don’t feel like they have a cheat code to beat them. 

Fans are still disappointed because they didn’t live up to the preseason expectations, but one thing we can take away from this is it’s better to play your worse Basketball in November than to peak early then fizzle out by January and February. 

UConn Looks Tough and MSG belongs to Mali’s World. 

There’s no question that outside of the Pirates,  the Huskies have been carrying the League on it’s back early this season getting big wins on big stages  against BYU and Illinois  yes Arizona got the best of them at home but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the Huskies are peaking in the right direction. 

Speaking of that Zona loss, the streets have been upset over the use of Malachi Smith late during that game but his MSG debut on Black Friday showed how much of an instant impact he can make on the court . In just 24 minutes, Smith went off for an efficient 14 points and nine assists and prevented Illinois from a comeback in the 74-61 win. There could be more of these type of performances from Smith as they will be back at MSG for the Jimmy V Classic on December 9th and when they face St. John’s on December 6th. 

UConn vs Illinois Highlights 11/28/2025

What We Learned

Feast week is a pivotal time during the college Basketball season where teams learn a lot about themselves but it doesn’t determine the direction of where a team is headed. The direction that your team is heading all depends on the adjustments that are made going into December.

In the days ahead….

The league has some big non conference games ahead to start the month of December. On Tuesday night UConn will head over to Lawrence, Kansas to play the Kansas Jayhawks.

On Wednesday, Seton Hall will play a very tough CCSU squad. This is a trap game for the Pirates because CCSU already beat Rutgers by double digits Coach Sellers isn’t the one to duck smoke expect an all out war between both teams.

As we mentioned earlier St. John’s will be playing Ole Miss in a Saturday night primetime showdown at MSG. Pivotal game for St. John’s as they will look to bounce back from a disappointing end to the month of November.

Villanova will start off the month against Big 5 rival temple before going into the most challenging part of their non-conference schedule as they will be going up against No. 7 Michigan next Sunday followed by games against Pitt and Wisconsin before Big East play. Kevin Willard has won in Ann Arbor before so there’s no question that he will have the Wildcats ready by next Sunday.