ST. JOHN’S (9-3): Coach Norm Roberts is in his fifth season at St. John’s and is still looking for a dose of good luck. The latest bad luck has come on the injury front, where leading scorer Anthony Mason (foot) is out for the year, point guard Malik Boothe (thumb) is out for at least another week, and top big man Justin Burrell is playing with a mask due to broken bones in his cheek. … A 9-1 start against soft competition has lost its luster after consecutive losses to Virginia Tech and Miami, both at Madison Square Garden. … Lost, 70-56, to Miami in Big East tune-up. The Storm hit 39 percent from the floor, 23 percent from the 3-point line and 53 percent from the foul stripe in the loss. … In his first career start, point guard Roberts scored a career-high 14 points and added a career-high nine rebounds. … Horne has scored in double figures in 10 straight games and Kennedy also is a dangerous scorer. … SJU hasn’t posted a winning Big East record since 2001-02.

PROVIDENCE (8-4): The Friars begin Big East play with two games in four days, both at home. DePaul comes to town on Saturday. This is just the second time in nine years that PC has opened league play at home. The Friars opened with two home games in 2007 and won both, beating Marquette and Seton Hall. … PC is 6-23 all-time in Big East openers. … After beating St. John’s 10 straight times, the Friars have dropped the last two meetings. PC has won six straight against the Storm in Providence. … The Friars are shooting 45 percent from the floor and 67 percent from the foul line. They are at just 28 percent from the 3-point line. … Top three scorers (Efejuku, Brooks, Kale) are shooting 52 percent or higher from the floor. Hanke leads the team at 67 percent.

WHERE: Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 4:00 p.m. SERIES: St. John’s leads, 55-40. LAST MEETING: SJU won, 64-62, Feb. 9, 2008. RADIO-TV: WEEI (103.7 FM). COX-TV.

— KEVIN McNAMARA