Preview: Duke at St. John's

When: 1 p.m. today

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

TV: WRAL, WNCT

Radio: WDNC-620, WKIX-102.9

Projected starting lineups

Duke (19-1)

G Nolan Smith 20.5 ppg, 5.7 apg

G Seth Curry 8.3 ppg, 1.8 apg

F Kyle Singler 17.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg

F Ryan Kelly 7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg

C Mason Plumlee 6.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg

St. John's (11-8)

G Dwight Hardy 14.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg

G Paris Horne 7.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg

G D.J. Kennedy 10.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg

F Dwayne Polee 5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg

F Justin Brownlee 13.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg

Player to watch: Dwight Hardy, 6-2, St. John's, Sr. G. One of four seniors in the St. John's starting lineup, Hardy is a transfer from Indian Hills Community College in Iowa who built a reputation as a street-ball player in summer leagues in Harlem. He can score off the catch and off the dribble, and is shooting 89.7 percent from the foul line.

Observation: Duke's rapidly improving post players should have a chance to score in the lane because St. John's doesn't start anybody taller than 6 feet 7. Under first-year coach Steve Lavin, St. John's is shooting just 31.2 percent from 3-point range and isn't strong on the boards, but excels at forcing turnovers (16 per game). The Blue Devils will have to protect the ball to prevent their smaller opponents from getting loose on the fast break.