Saint Louis @ Boston College preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 24, 2011 ) Boston College 51, Saint Louis 62

Derryck Thornton is probably looking for the reset button right about now as Boston College readies itself to play visiting Saint Louis on Wednesday in a Gotham Classic matchup. Thornton's strong start to the season has been lost in an array of missed shots and turnovers in recent games for the Eagles, who will look to even their series with the Billikens.

Thornton opened his first and only season at Boston College by showing the promise that made him a top recruit coming out of high school by producing a pair of 20-point games, but things have mostly gone downhill since. The difficulties started for Thornton, who played one season at Duke and then two at USC prior to joining the Eagles, against High Point as he mustered two made field goals and seven points. They got worse against Eastern Washington and DePaul as he went 9-of-26 from the floor and committed 14 turnovers against eight assists, bringing his assist-turnover ratio down to 1.13 for the season. In securing the most rebounds (24) by a Division I player this season in Saturday's 60-55 victory over Belmont, Hasahn French set several marks, including a career high, the Gotham Classic record and the standard for Saint Louis' Chaifetz Arena.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT SAINT LOUIS (5-1): The 24 rebounds, which equaled the Atlantic 10 Conference record set by George Washington's Yinka Dare in 1993, is not all that French accomplished against Belmont as the junior had a career-high seven blocked shots, the second most in Saint Louis history, scored 21 points and dished out four assists. The Billikens hadn't had a player record a 20-point, 20-rebound game since Anthony Bonner went for 45 points and 20 boards in 1990 against Loyola Chicago. The mammoth game brings French's seasonal averages to 15 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.17 blocks, which ranked tied for 12th in the country entering Tuesday.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (4-2): The Eagles were killed on the glass against DePaul 47-28 overall and 16-6 in offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points for the Blue Demons and things could get worse with French and company, who were ranked 10th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (14.67). After recording a double-double in 34 minutes against Eastern Washington, senior forward Nik Popovic had three boards while being limited to 24 minutes against DePaul because of foul trouble. "You respond by getting better," coach Jim Christian, whose team plays another A-10 squad in Richmond on Nov. 30, told the media. "The only other response is panic. We've just got to get better."

TIP-INS

1. Steffon Mitchell has had nine or more rebounds in five of six games this season for the Eagles after doing so 11 times as a sophomore.

2. French, who is one of two players in the country along with Minnesota's Daniel Oturu to average at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, posted previous highs for rebounds and blocks of 16 and six during his freshman season.

3. Boston College and Saint Louis played three low-scoring games between 2007 and 2011 with each team winning once at home and the Billikens prevailing on a neutral court.

PREDICTION: Saint Louis 72, Boston College 69