Central Conn. St. @ St. John's preview

The season got off to a solid start for St. John's with a 77-61 home victory over New Orleans Friday, but the win raised some questions about the team's rebounding after the Privateers outrebounded the Red Storm 42-27. The Johnnies will look for better control of the boards when Central Connecticut comes to town Tuesday after two tight setbacks to open the year, including a 71-67 loss to Rutgers on Sunday.

While it's just one game, St. John's was exposed on the glass and the bench didn't offer much help, contributing just six boards, all by junior forward Tariq Owens. "Obviously, there were some things that we can look at on film and get better at," third-year coach Chris Mullin told reporters after the opener. "They hammered us on the boards pretty good. That's always a concern. From that standpoint, it looked like a first game." St. John's looked far more polished on the scoring end with four players in double figures, highlighted by sophomore guards Marcus LoVett (23 points) and Shamorie Ponds (12 points, seven rebounds, six assists) picking up right where they left off from their eye-opening freshman campaigns. This will be the Blue Devils' third road game in five days -- CCSU will play four road games in the first week -- and they were without head coach Donyell Marshall and assistant Anthony Anderson for the first two after both were suspended for a "confidential personal matter currently under investigation by the university."

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, FS2

ABOUT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT (0-2): The Blue Devils outshot Rutgers 48.1 percent to 35.4, but the Scarlet Knights scored 23 points off 20 turnovers. Junior Tyler Kohl led Central Connecticut in scoring (22 points) and rebounds (eight) off the bench, while senior Mustafa Jones had 14 points and six boards. In two games, Kohl has been especially proficient in the second half and overtime, averaging 19 points and four rebounds.

ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (1-0): LoVett and Ponds did exactly what was expected of them in the opener, but Michigan State transfer Marvin Clark made his presence felt as well in his St. John's debut with a career-high-tying 15 points (5-of-6 shooting), a total he reached just twice in 69 games with the Spartans. Fellow transfer Justin Simon, who came over from Arizona, was one off his career best with nine points as well as four rebounds. The Red Storm set a team record with 278 3-pointers a year ago and they had no problems converting from downtown against New Orleans, hitting 12-of-30 attempts (40 percent), led by LoVett's five 3-pointers.

TIP-INS

1. The Red Storm won their 14th straight home opener and are looking to improve to 2-0 for the fourth straight season.

2. The teams have met just once before, with St. John's roaring to a 135-92 victory on Nov. 24, 1990 in the championship game of the Lapchick Tournament.

3. Head coaches Mullin and Marshall were Golden State Warriors teammates in the 1990s.

PREDICTION: St. John's 84, Central Connecticut 59