St. John's Jakarr Sampson (14) goes up against Notre Dame's Cameron Biedscheid (1) and Tom Knight (25) during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at Madison Square Garden in New York. St. John's won 67-63. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
St. John's Jamal Branch, top, fouls Notre Dame's Eric Atkins during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Notre Dame's Eric Atkins, left, goes up against St. John's Phil Greene IV, center, and Christian Jones during an first half of the NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Notre Dame's Jack Cooley (45) goes up against St. John's D'Angelo Harrison during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
NEW YORK — Notre Dame was cruising as the Big East season started. The last two games of the Irish’s 12-game winning streak were conference wins. The last two games of the season have been conference losses. Three days after losing 65-58 to Connecticut to …