The madness of March is officially in full swing, and Saturday’s slate of conference tournament championship games did not disappoint. With Selection Sunday looming, several blue bloods and rising programs alike made emphatic statements, none more resounding than those delivered by Duke, Houston, and St. John’s. Each program emerged from their respective conference tournaments not only with championship hardware, but with surging momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Duke entered the ACC Tournament with something to prove. Despite a strong regular season finish, questions lingered about their consistency against elite competition and whether their young core could sustain the pressure of tournament play. But on Saturday night in Charlotte, the Blue Devils left no doubt, dismantling North Carolina in one of the most lopsided ACC title games in recent memory. Jon Scheyer’s team brought a level of intensity and precision that overwhelmed the Tar Heels from the opening tip. Freshman guard Jared McCain was sensational, scoring 25 points while shooting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. His confidence never wavered, even as UNC tried multiple defensive looks to slow him down. Kyle Filipowski, who had been relatively quiet in the semifinal, came alive in the second half with a double-double, providing stability in the paint and making key defensive stops.
It wasn’t just the stars who shined. Duke’s bench was impactful throughout, with sophomore forward Mark Mitchell contributing key minutes and making hustle plays that shifted momentum during crucial stretches. Defensively, Duke held UNC to just 37% shooting from the field, including an abysmal 3-of-18 from three-point range. The Blue Devils’ ability to switch defensively and contest every look frustrated the Tar Heels and led to fast-break opportunities that Duke capitalized on with ruthless efficiency. The 84–59 final score was a testament to the totality of Duke’s dominance. It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement that this team is peaking at the right time and ready for a deep run in March.
Meanwhile, in the Big 12, top-ranked Houston entered the conference tournament as the favorite, but even the Cougars may have exceeded expectations with the level of dominance they displayed. Their title game against Iowa State was billed as a clash of contrasting styles—Houston’s suffocating defense versus Iowa State’s fast-paced attack—but it quickly turned into a showcase for the Cougars’ elite execution. Under head coach Kelvin Sampson, Houston has built a reputation as one of the most disciplined and physical teams in the country, and they proved why once again. Jamal Shead controlled the tempo throughout, dictating the pace and keeping Iowa State’s offense off balance. He finished with 17 points and 9 assists, orchestrating Houston’s offense with poise and precision.
On the defensive end, Houston put on a clinic. Iowa State managed just 49 points, their lowest total of the season, as the Cougars clamped down on every scoring attempt and forced 18 turnovers. Every pass, every screen, and every cut was contested, leaving Iowa State scrambling to find rhythm. J’Wan Roberts was a force in the paint, grabbing 12 rebounds and swatting away three shots. With the 69–49 victory, Houston clinched its first Big 12 Tournament title in its debut season in the conference, an achievement that signals the Cougars are not only adapting to their new surroundings—they’re taking them over.
Back in New York, the St. John’s Red Storm delivered one of the feel-good stories of Championship Week, capping off a magical run through the Big East Tournament with a resounding win over defending national champion UConn. It was a victory that few predicted but one that now has the entire college basketball world paying attention. Rick Pitino, in his first year back in the Big East, has completely revitalized the St. John’s program. After a rocky start to the season and murmurs about whether Pitino’s methods would translate to immediate success, the Red Storm have stormed into the national spotlight with grit, confidence, and a level of cohesion rarely seen from a newly assembled roster.
In the title game, St. John’s came out swinging. The Red Storm jumped to an early lead behind the hot shooting of Daniss Jenkins, who scored 21 points and nailed several big-time shots in the closing minutes of the first half. Jordan Dingle and Joel Soriano added 15 points each, giving Pitino a balanced attack that kept UConn guessing. The Red Storm’s defensive intensity was relentless, as they held the Huskies to under 40% shooting and forced them into difficult looks all game long. UConn made a push late in the second half, but each time they threatened, St. John’s had an answer.
What made the performance even more impressive was the composure the Red Storm showed under pressure. UConn’s raucous fan base turned Madison Square Garden into a pseudo-home game for the Huskies, but it was St. John’s who looked the more composed and aggressive team down the stretch. Pitino, ever the master tactician, made several key adjustments that neutralized UConn’s size advantage and limited their second-chance opportunities. The 74–65 win marked St. John’s first Big East Tournament title since 2000, and it all but guarantees their return to the NCAA Tournament after a multi-year absence. Pitino called the moment “a new chapter for New York basketball,” and judging by the way his team is playing, that chapter might include a few more surprises in March.
With Duke, Houston, and St. John’s all winning their conference tournaments, the ripple effects across the NCAA landscape are already being felt. These victories not only secure high seeds for each of the three programs but also signal that these teams are peaking at the right time. For the Selection Committee, the dominance displayed by each squad leaves little doubt about their tournament worthiness—and in the cases of Duke and Houston, perhaps even a push for top-two seed lines.
Beyond just seeding implications, these wins represent a turning point in each program’s season. For Duke, it’s a confirmation of Jon Scheyer’s continued growth as a head coach and his ability to mold a young team into a contender. The Blue Devils’ blend of freshman talent and experienced leadership now looks poised to navigate the chaos of the NCAA Tournament with confidence. Houston, on the other hand, looks like a team with unfinished business. After reaching the Final Four in 2021 and the Elite Eight in 2022, the Cougars are eyeing a deeper run—and perhaps a national title. Their combination of experience, defensive prowess, and elite guard play makes them one of the toughest outs in the country.
And then there’s St. John’s—a team that wasn’t even on the bubble just a few weeks ago, now suddenly being talked about as a dangerous sleeper. With Rick Pitino’s track record and the way his team is defending and executing, few teams will want to see the Red Storm in their bracket. They’ve proven they can beat elite competition on big stages and are playing with the confidence of a team that has nothing to lose.
Saturday’s conference championship games also served as a reminder of the drama and emotion that defines college basketball in March. From the raucous scenes in Charlotte and Kansas City to the electric atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, each title game was a microcosm of what makes this sport so captivating. Players leaving it all on the floor. Coaches living and dying with every possession. Fanbases riding waves of tension and jubilation. It’s the theater of the unexpected, the thrill of competition at its highest level.
Sunday will set the stage for what promises to be one of the most unpredictable NCAA Tournaments in recent memory. Upsets will happen. Cinderellas will emerge. Brackets will be busted. But for now, Duke, Houston, and St. John’s can bask in the glory of their championship runs, secure in the knowledge that they have already made their mark on this March.