The St. John's Red Storm kick off their third season under head coach Steve Lavin on Tuesday afternoon as they take on the Detroit Titans of the Horizon League at Carnesecca Arena.
The game is airing as part of ESPN's 24-hour College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.
Lavin and the Red Storm come into the season with high expectations after brining in the No. 8-ranked recruiting class in the nation.
The team returns its two best players in Moe Harkless and sophomore D'Angelo Harrison and also will get a boost when junior college transfers Orlando Sanchez and Marc-Antoine Bourgault are cleared to play by the NCAA. Both players are having their eligibility statuses investigated by the NCAA.
"I try to stay away from the speculation game," Lavin said. "Not something right now that we can really dictate. We've done our part. Now we wait."
Harrison was the most impressive player on the team last season, scoring16.8 points and grabbing 3.9 rebounds. Harkless was just as good, putting in 15.3 points and snagging 8.6 rebounds.
When the Red Storm tip-off on Tuesday though, Harrison will not be in the starting lineup. Lavin said he will bring Harrison off the bench as "punishment for unspecified transgressions," according to ESPN.com.
"At this point it probably will be the same as what we've gone with the past two (exhibition) games," Lavin said Monday to ESPN..com. "And I expect D'Angelo to play the equivalent of starter's minutes."
Harrison has taken the benching in stride and has responded to it well in two exhibition games against Division II Sonoma State and Division III Concordia (Ill.).
"Just don't react to things, don't let your emotions get the best of you," he said. "Just stuff I had problems with last year -- just being more mindful of it, since I'm older. Just having a better attitude all the time."
The Red Storm will use a number of young players this season, including a mix of freshman and sophomores that includes guard Phil Greene and forwards Jakarr Sampson and Christian Jones.
In Lavin's first season with the team he led the Red Storm to a 21-12 record, including 12-6 in the Big East. As a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament, St John's made it to the second round before losing to Gonzaga.
Last season Lavin missed time while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. The team finished 13-19, including 6-12 in the Big East. The Red Storm lost in the first round of the Big East tournament against Pittsburgh and did not make the NCAA tournament.
Detroit comes into the game a season after making the NCAA tournament. The team has played the Red Storm before, winning 69-63 last December in Detroit.
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