Molloy @ St. John's preview

St. John's is off to a running start with three straight double-digit victories, including a dominant 79-56 triumph over Big Ten foe Nebraska in a Gavitt Tipoff Game on Thursday. Now the Red Storm close out their four-game homestand on Monday with their first-ever visit from Molloy, a Division II school located less than 15 miles away.

The victory over Nebraska was an impressive one for the Red Storm, proving to the young team that it could put everything together and shut down a major opponent. "This was our biggest test to date on this early season," third-year coach Chris Mullin told reporters after the win, "and it was definitely going to pose some huge challenges ... particularly on things that we haven't done well in game situations, which are rebounding and defensive play. We did a good job on both, but I think the most important thing is that tonight was really the first time that I saw our defensive alertness, quickness, and athleticism really showed. I think part of it is just gaining confidence in each other. ... Since I've been here, that's the best defense I've seen us play." The Johnnies didn't have the look of a strong defensive team when they opened the year on the short end of the rebound battle with New Orleans (42-27), but they have played tenacious defense in the two games since and completely dominated Nebraska inside, outrebounding the Cornhuskers 50-39 and outscoring them 44-16 in the paint. Justin Simon, a transfer from Arizona, has stepped up as a defensive force in his first season with St. John's, posting double-doubles the last two outings, with a team- and career-high 12 boards and 13 points against Nebraska and 11 rebounds and 12 points the previous game against Central Connecticut.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, FS1.

ABOUT MOLLOY (1-3): Picked to finish sixth in the 10-team East Coast Conference during the preseason, the Lions are coming off a 76-65 loss on Saturday to Dominican College in the Sixth Annual Daniel Sullivan Memorial Tournament. Sophomore Nick Corbett scored a career-high 30 points in the setback and is averaging a team-high 19.0 points per game, while junior Curtis Jenkins scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds and sophomore Josh Dennis notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds along with a game-high five assists. Molloy is scoring 63.5 points per game and surrendering 73.2, and the team has been outrebounded by 5.0 boards per outing.

ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (3-0): Joining Simon as a player to contend with inside is forward Tariq Owens, who came off the bench against Nebraska to finish second on the team with nine rebounds while tying a career high with six of the team's 10 blocks. The offensive punch was also there against the Huskers, with sophomore Shamorie Ponds posting a season-high 22 points -- his second straight 20-point outing -- along with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals, and fellow soph star Marcus LoVett registering 14 points, with senior forward Bashir Ahmed adding 15 points and five rebounds. St. John's has forced an average of 19.3 turnovers per contest and through three games, the Red Storm sit atop the Big East in scoring defense (57.3 ppg), steals per game (9.0) and turnover margin (plus-8.0).

TIP-INS

1. The Red Storm are aiming for their first 4-0 start and first four-game winning streak since the 2014-15 campaign.

2. The Johnnies' average margin of victory this year is 21.3 points per game.

3. Owens topped the Big East in blocked shots last year and he is leading this year as well with 3.3 blocks per game.

PREDICTION: St. John's 90, Molloy 52