Big East Basketball Preview: St. John's, Rutgers, Seton Hall In Action Tuesday

Three SB Nation New York men's college basketball programs -- St. John's University, Rutgers University and Seton Hall University -- are all in action Tuesday night. Here's a brief roundup of the local action along with a Big East basketball television schedule and game times:

Seton Hall vs. Yale University -- Prudential Center at 7 p.m.

Despite a stellar 32-point, nine-rebound performance from senior forward Herb Pope, the Pirates (3-1) lost Sunday, 80-73, to Northwestern University in the 2011 Charleston Classic championship game. On Tuesday, Seton Hall tries to get back to its winning ways by hosting the Bulldogs (2-1), who were predicted to finish second in the Ivy League Preseason Media Polls.

Look for the Pirates, who enter as 8 1/2 point favorites, to get back on track.

Rutgers vs. Illinois State University -- Moon Palace Resort’s Galactic Ballroom, Cancun, Mexico at 7 p.m.

With a decisive 66-52 win over Hampton University Sunday, the Scarlet Knights (3-1) earned the right to play on foreign soil Tuesday night against Illinois State (CBS Sports Network). Rutgers is playing in the 2011 Triple Crown Cancun Challenge and if its wins will play either University of Illinois or the University of Richmond in Wednesday's championship game.

Currently, Rutgers is a four-point favorite to advance to the finals.

St. John's vs. St. Francis University -- Carnesseca Arena at 9 p.m.

After putting together a decent showing at the 2K Sports Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic last week, the St. John's basketball program will try to get back to its winning ways as the Red Storm (3-2) hosts St. Francis (0-3) in a non-conference game in Queens. (ESPN3). St. John's will try and snap a two-game losing streak, which featured falling to the University of Arizona, 81-72, Nov. 17, and Texas A&M University, 58-57, Nov. 18. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn based school, St. Francis, will try to collects its first victory of its 2011-12 season.

Other Big East Basketball games on the schedule are:

• Georgetown at Chaminade, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Arkansas State at No. 7 Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
• La Salle at No. 16 Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
• Morehead State at West Virginia, 7 p.m.
• Southern Mississippi at Providence, 7 p.m.