When asked about Harkless not playing against the Bulls, Vaughn gave an indication that he was resting the rookie acquired in the Dwight Howard trade....

Harkless was averaging 17.7 minutes in 27 games, He has not been a factor offensively, averaging 3.9 points. But he has been decent defensively, averaging 3.7 rebounds and blocking 17 shots.

There is a chance the Red Storm could get center Orlando Sanchez cleared by the NCAA in the coming weeks, The Post has learned.

Sanchez, a 6-9, 214-pound rebounder and shot blocker, has been awaiting word on his case, which centers on eligibility because of his age. Because of a difficult family upbringing in the Dominican Republic which included financial hardship, Sanchez, 24, graduated from high school at an advanced age.

He received his associate degree from Monroe College but the NCAA needs documentation that he experienced "financial hardship beyond an individual's control" to clear him. The Post has learned that St. John's is in the process of securing important documentation for Sanchez’s case file with the NCAA.

"If they do [form a Catholic league], they risk losing the conference label and then they risk losing the contact with Madison Square Garden for the tournament," the source said. "They don’t want to make a mistake by jumping out early and then not being able to get a pretty good TV deal, even though it’s going to be obviously much less on the basketball side.

"That’s why it’s a waiting game because they’re worried about if they did something collectively and tried to reform with others. It all goes around to the brand of the Big East and the Garden."

Murray State has suspended sophomore guard Zay Jackson for the season.

Jackson was arrested for hitting two people with his car last month in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Despite such an ugly scene, it looked as though Murray State was going to bring Jackson back sometime this season, even though he was suspended indefinitely -- that was until the video of the incident leaked out.

Jackson, who averaged 4.9 points last season and was expected to start for Steve Prohm and the Racers this season, pleaded guilty and received a 30-day sentence. He was expected to return to court on Nov. 30, when the judge could alter the plea deal.

After helping lead St. John's to a pair of shutouts as part of a 1-0-1 week in conference action, Jack Bennett was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and Rafael Diaz was selected to the Weekly Honor Roll.