USC Basketball: Boogie Ellis Credits Team After Big Night Vs Kansas State
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Fifth-year guard Boogie Ellis is without a doubt the leader on a USC Trojans team that has high internal aspirations and high expectations from fans and bookmakers alike.
Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Trojans rank behind only Arizona as favorites to win the Pac-12 and with freshman guard Isaiah Collier — the top prospect in his high school class last year — and Bronny James' potential return, all eyes are on USC.
Playing perhaps the most-anticipated game of college basketball's opening day, as it was the only Power 6 matchup in which one of the teams was ranked, USC did not disappoint in their season opener.
Ellis led the Trojans to a 82-69 victory over Kansas State in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas with a team-high 24 points, 5 assists and 8 rebounds, which tied guard Kobe Johnson for the team-high.
Ellis, in his third year with the Trojans, went 3-for-7 at the three-point line and iced the game for the Trojans with 90 seconds remaining as his two free throws gave USC back a double-digit lead they would not relinquish.
Johnson also had an impressive 2023 debut, scoring 16 points and amassing four steals in addition to an assist and eight rebounds. Collier also shined in his first college action, scoring 18 points and notching six assists and three rebounds before fouling out with five minutes remaining.
Ellis credited the experience on the team as a reason behind the Trojans' ability to hold a lead for essentially the entirety of the game.
“We’ve got a lot of vets and people that are experienced and been through it,” Ellis said. “So we just stayed calm, came together and just stayed calm.”
With four of their starting five juniors or older, USC has one of the most experienced rosters in the country. According to Ellis, that's what could prep them for a tough final season in the Pac-12.
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