Mar 6, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; St. John’s Red Storm guard Joson Sanon (3) reacts after making a three point basket during the second half against the Seton Hall Pirates at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The official rubber match — no, it’s not the one everybody has been anticipating — is here. At least, not yet.

For the third time this season, St. John’s will face Providence in the Big East Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at noon ET. The game comes at the perfect time — the Friars are at an all-time low, while the Red Storm chase history.

Feb. 14, the second time the two clashed, marked a homecoming for former Friar Bryce Hopkins and a chance for St. John’s to right its wrongs from its first bout on Jan. 3. The environment was rowdy, boos raining down on Hopkins, leading up to the ultimate moment, one that wrote the ending to both their seasons.

Hopkins was on a one-on-one transition opportunity when Duncan Powell put him in a midair chokehold. The blatant foul understandably frustrated Hopkins, who then squared up with Powell. From there, the court saw players, coaches, security, and even athletic directors rush in. Powell was the only player ejected for fighting after throwing a punch at Dillon Mitchell.

In the fallout, St. John’s lost Mitchell due to a flagrant foul and then lost three bench pieces — Ruben Prey, Kelvin Odih, and Sadiku Ibine Ayo. Providence also lost top scorer Jaylin Sellers, who was forced to leave the contest.

A Saturday afternoon college basketball game suddenly turned into a UFC main event, one the Johnnies won by unanimous decision, 79-69. Powell received a three-game suspension, with the brawl questioning Kim English’s coaching, which later led to the news of his eventual firing following the season.

Now, both teams clash on the biggest stage, one that could bring fans from both sides to the Garden for another heated contest.

Following the loss to Providence on Jan. 3, Pitino and St. John’s found themselves at the lowest point of the season, but with their backs against the wall, they responded, winning 12 straight and finishing Big East play with an 18-2 conference record for the second straight season.

The Johnnies will also look to make program history, with the chance to go back-to-back as Big East Tournament champions for the first time, while also going back-to-back in both the tournament and regular season.

“Every time I step onto that floor of Madison Square Garden, I’m emotional, excited, honored,” said Rick Pitino about the Big East Tournament. “I am totally enthralled with the Big East Tournament. I was at Louisville, where we went back-to-back, and now we’re trying to get back-to-back once again.”

For more on St. John’s, visit AMNY.com