Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Tip-off: Tuesday, 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: Villanova -4.5, Total: 132

No. 24 St. John's looks for its first Big East win this season when it entertains No. 8 Villanova on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats are also looking to get back in the win column after suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday, a 66-61 overtime loss at Seton Hall. Villanova shot a season-low 31.0% from the floor to fall to 5-1 SU (3-1 ATS) in non-home games this season. The Red Storm have started conference play 0-2 (SU and ATS) as they allowed 75.5 PPG on 47.1% FG in a road loss at Seton Hall and a 73-69 home defeat to Butler on Saturday, dropping them to 9-1 SU (4-3 ATS) on their home floor. The Wildcats have thoroughly dominated this series recently with five straight wins overall (3-1-1 ATS) and seven straight victories (6-1 ATS) at Madison Square Garden during a 13-2 SU stretch (10-5 ATS) against the Red Storm. Both teams shot horribly in last season's series, combining for a 35% FG clip in the two meetings, with Villanova winning by seven on the road, then by three points at home. The Wildcats are also 12-1 ATS in the past three seasons versus poor three-point shooting teams (31% or fewer threes), outscoring these opponents by an average of 17.5 PPG. But St. John's is 23-13 ATS versus excellent ball-handling teams (12 or fewer TO per game) since Steve Lavin took over as head coach. There are no significant injuries for either school, and PG Rysheed Jordan, the second-leading scorer for St. John's who missed Saturday's game due to the death of his grandmother, will return to action on Tuesday.

Can Villanova continue to dominate this Big East foe on Tuesday? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the StatFox Experts selections every week throughout the entire 2013-14 season. The experts have caught fire since Dec. 23, combining for a 64% ATS mark (32-18) in college basketball Best Bets. StatFox Gary is 9-1 ATS during this timeframe to improve to 68% ATS (27-13) for the season, while StatFox Scott is on an 8-2 ATS Best Bets run since Dec. 23. StatFox Zach and StatFox Brian are both 55% ATS (22-18) on college hoops Best Bets this season.

Villanova has been a great offensive team this season with 75.9 PPG (35th in NCAA) on 46.7% FG (51st in nation) and 33.7% threes with an unselfish 15.1 APG (58th in NCAA). But what gets overlooked is the defense that has limited opponents to a mere 59.4 PPG (40th in nation) on 39.8% FG and 28.6% threes. The Wildcats have great balance on offense with five players averaging double figures, but only one with 11 points per game, SG Darrun Hilliard II (12.4 PPG, 2.2 SPG). Hilliard has scored in double-figures in 11 of 13 contests, and is averaging 16.3 PPG on 55% FG in his past four games. He shot horribly at St. John's last season (1-for-10 FG), but dropped 18 points on 6-of-8 FG (4-of-5 threes) in the home win. Senior PF JayVaughn Pinkston (10.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG) was just the opposite with a double-double at Madison Square Garden (15 points, 10 boards) before a foul-plagued five points and nine rebounds in the home win over the Red Storm. Pinkston's streak of four straight 10-point games (15.5 PPG) ended in Saturday's loss when he made just 1-of-7 FG and finished with seven points, but also seven rebounds. PG Dylan Ennis (10.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.0 APG, 36% threes) was even worse on Saturday with zero points (0-for-3 FG) and four fouls in 24 minutes versus Seton Hall. But he is still a dangerous scorer with eight games of 10+ points this season. C Daniel Ochefu (10.1 PPG, 65% FG, 8.7 RPG) has been on a scoring binge in the past three games with 14.0 PPG on 71% FG, but it has been his rebounding that has really jumped off the page. Ochefu grabbed a jaw-dropping 24 boards on Saturday to give him 14.3 RPG over the past three contests.

St. John's has an average offense that scores 71.2 PPG (111th in NCAA) on 44.7% FG (126th in nation), in large part to a subpar 12.2 APG (214th in NCAA). The team also shoots poorly from downtown with 30.8% threes. Defensively the team is very tough, limiting opponents to 60.6 PPG (57th in nation) on 37.8% FG (31st in NCAA) and 30.5% threes. This is success is greatly due to an interior defense with 7.0 blocks per game (6th in nation), but the guards are also quick with 8.5 steals per contest (33rd in NCAA). C Chris Obekpa (7.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.9 BPG) is an elite rim protector who has 20 blocks in the past four games, but also has four fouls in each of his team's two straight losses, and will need to stay aggressive on Tuesday. SG D'Angelo Harrison (20.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG) shot below 40% FG in his first three college seasons, but he has a strong 45% FG clip this season, and has averaged 25.7 PPG on 51% FG in his past three games. Harrison scored 18.5 PPG in the two meetings with Villanova last season, but made just 8-of-28 shots (29%) in the pair of defeats. PG Rysheed Jordan (14.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.9 APG) didn't play last game, but still has two straight double-digit scoring games. Jordan (2.1 SPG) and stat-sheet stuffer SF Sir'Dominic Pointer (10.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG) are the team's best perimeter defenders. Pointer will need to pick up his offense, as he's scored only 13 points on 6-of-19 FG during the two-game losing skid. SG Phil Greene IV (11.6 PPG) has 14+ points in three of his past four games, but needs to get to the foul line more, as he's attempted only 19 free throws (79%) all season.