The UConn-St. John’s rivalry depends on who you ask. For Red Storm coach Rick Pitino, it’s simply another Big East matchup. “I don’t consider Connecticut any more of a rival than Villanova or Providence or Marquette or Creighton or any of them,” he said at media day. Yet on the other side, UConn head coach Dan Hurley views the matchup with far more intensity, especially with both teams fighting for conference dominance.

Speaking to John Fanta of NBC Sports, Dan Hurley shared his perspective on the rivalry. The UConn head coach acknowledged the unique edge of facing St. John’s, pointing to the intensity between the programs. “We’re both fighting for the same thing. So it’s tension. There’s tension. We’re both fighting for the same thing,” Hurley said. Certainly, there’s tension as both teams have been taking turns dominating the Big East over the past couple of seasons.

UConn has cemented itself as the Big East’s benchmark for success for some time now, taking over Villanova’s long-held dominance with consecutive national championships. The Huskies’ consistency and championship pedigree have set a new standard for the rest of the conference to chase.

The UConn men’s basketball team solidified its place in 2024, becoming only the third program since 1973 to win consecutive national championships. The Huskies are now tied with North Carolina (6) for the third-most titles in NCAA history, claiming six crowns in the past 25 years, twice as many as any other program. It also marked the first back-to-back triumph in UConn’s illustrious basketball legacy! Yet, the St. John debate gets traction, including praise from a UConn star, Alex Karaban.

There’s no doubt that Rick Pitino has sparked a resurgence at St. John’s, propelling the Red Storm back into national relevance. “Coach Pitino’s impact has been incredible,” UConn forward Alex Karaban said. “He’s completely elevated that program into true contenders.” But coach Hurley isn’t ready to give that credit.

“I mean, that’s when a rivalry is really going to take off. It can’t be a rivalry. If one program is winning national championships, going to the final four, and is dominant in college basketball, and the other program has been struggling for a long time, like St. John’s has been struggling,” Hurley further elaborated. Well, as harsh as it might sound, the former Naismith Coach of the Year does have several facts to back his claim.

UConn’s recent dominance backs up Dan Hurley’s huge claim

Even though UConn Huskies’ long-time head coach did try to mince his words by giving Coach Pitino some credit, the damage had been done. However, Hurley does have enough facts to back his bold claim, and the stats also reflect the same. Across 2023 and 2024, the Huskies have won 12 straight NCAA Tournament games by double digits.

Not just that, their 140-point combined margin is a record in modern basketball. Moreover, during the 2023-24 season, St. John’s did not even come close to UConn as they demolished them three times in a single season and went on to boast a 37-3 record that year.

“UConn’s been running for the last 25, 30 years. UConn’s been running college basketball. And I see all the former champs over there. And we’ve been running college basketball for the last 30 years. Let’s go,” Hurley said after cutting the nets in 2024. That wasn’t just a message; it was a statement that now the 52-year-old head coach, who recently signed a $50 million contract that’ll keep him in Connecticut until the 2029-30 season, will have to back up.

More so, the 4th and 5th-seeded teams are set to face off twice in the same month next year. First, the Huskies will make the trip to the infamous Madison Square Garden on 6th February, followed by UConn hosting St. John’s on 25th February. So, it will be worth watching who comes out on top, especially after the statements made by both the head coaches before the Big East season tips off in a few days on November 5.