St. John's opens its season on Nov. 16 against North Carolina-Asheville in the Chase Preseason N.I.T. at Alumni Hall.

The only basketball game known to have been postponed last night was a Big South contest between Coastal Carolina and North Carolina-Asheville at Asheville.

In 1992, the Big South, consisting of Augusta, Baptist, Campbell, Coastal Carolina, North Carolina-Asheville, Radford and Winthrop, will be certified for the tournament.

Kentucky in the Midwest and Texas in the South will receive stiffer challenges than Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and North Carolina-Asheville offered.

No team except North Carolina-Asheville (14-16) won fewer games than Alabama and Cincinnati.

Artest, who shoots right-handed, is expected to be ready for the season opener Nov. 16 against North Carolina-Asheville in the Chase Preseason National Invitation Tournament.

North Carolina-Asheville is 5-5 in its last 10.

On Friday in Birmingham, Ala., Texas plays the winner of Tuesday's game between North Carolina-Asheville and Texas Southern.

The Longhorns defeated 16th-seeded North Carolina-Asheville, 82-61, earlier today.

The first game, between North Carolina-Asheville and Texas Southern, was played last night in Dayton, Ohio.