California @ Boston College preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2010 ) California 46, Boston College 68

California’s rebuilding effort is just a few weeks old, but signs of progress can already be seen with new coach Mark Fox leading the way. The Bears look to take another step forward Saturday against Boston College when the teams meet at the Chase Center in San Francisco as part of the Al Attles Classic.

Sophomore guard Matt Bradley is averaging 17.4 points while shooting 90.2 percent from the foul line to lead the Bears, who were pegged to finish last in the Pac-12 after winning four games in each of the past two seasons. Cal opened the season with four straight wins and tested Saint Mary’s last Saturday before seeing its eight-game home winning streak come to an end in the 89-77 loss. “Cal’s good now, they’re good,” Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett told reporters. “They’ve been down the last couple years, but this year they’re playing better defensively, a little older. They’re not where they think they need to be, but they’re good. We had to play well to get the win.” The Bears will need a complete effort to get past BC, which has won three in a row against Notre Dame, Albany and Central Connecticut following a four-game losing streak.

TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT CALIFORNIA (6-5): Sophomore forward Andre Kelly scored a career-high 26 points and junior forward Grant Anticevich scored eight of his 11 points in the second half in the loss to Saint Mary’s, which shot 53.4 percent from the field. The Bears received another quiet outing from senior guard Paris Austin, who averaged 11.6 points while starting 27 games last season but has averaged five points on 6-of-22 shooting over his last four games. The team’s top long-range threat is grad transfer Kareem South, who has made 10 3-pointers over the past five games.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (7-5): Senior guard Jared Hamilton scored 18 points and junior forward Steffon Mitchell posted his second straight double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds in last Sunday’s 74-55 victory over winless Central Connecticut. The Eagles have won their last three games since learning starting center Nik Popovic was sidelined indefinitely with a back injury and enter Saturday’s contest with 212 forced turnovers, tied for seventh-most in the nation. Duke and USC transfer Derryck Thornton averages 14.2 points and 3.9 assists to lead the Eagles, who begin ACC play at Duke on New Year’s Eve.

TIP-INS

1. BC holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series – including a 68-48 victory in the last meeting on Nov. 28, 2010.

2. Thornton averaged 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists in four meetings against Cal while playing for USC from 2017-19.

3. The Bears are last in the Pac-12 in scoring (66.6 points), scoring defense (70.2) and rebounding margin (minus-1.9).

PREDICTION: Boston College 74, California 66