Game thread, TV info: St. John's Red Storm vs Humboldt State Lumberjacks

Some tendencies to watch for:

Saturdays' game likely made Steve Lavin go a little grayer like his assistant coach Jim Whitesell. The game may not have counted, but Lavin was disappointed in what he saw from his charges.

"We're still two or three months away from our best basketball," he told the media after the game. But, as usual, the coach was upbeat about the prospects for the Red Storm this season, adding that "I think we can surprise some people along the way."

Lavin's UCLA teams often had some growing pains early every year, and turned it on late in the season to surge into the NCAA Tournament. The Johnnies, right now, have the look of the same kind of squad - ulttra-talented pieces that need to create a cohesive brand of unselfish basketball.

And talented pieces who need to defend the three with better intensity, and need to get better, more efficient shots. From the Rumble preview:

The Johnnies played man-to-man the whole game; Jordan and junior Sir`Dominic Pointer shined in that defense because of their athleticism and length. The team as a whole, though, struggled to get out on shooters.

The offense lacked penetration, and was jump shot happy – much like last year. The Red Storm loved the mid-range jumpshot last season - especially the reigning Big East Freshman of the Year, Jakarr Sampson, who struggled with his jumper against SF State. D`Angelo Harrison (29 points) was enough to carry the team, but he will need help.

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