CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein recently attended a USC basketball practice. Rothstein is high on the Trojans this season, as are we. This is a special roster (even if Bronny James isn’t able to play in the first several weeks of the season, or at any point in the season). This is a unique and rare chance for USC to become a big hitter in the Pac-12 and college basketball. Rothstein understands that.
Part of why USC has a chance to be great this season is the fact that Boogie Ellis has returned for one more year.
Rothstein is so high on Boogie because he’s hugely experienced and has already proved he can consistently score at the collegiate level.
Rothstein made the case that Boogie Ellis should be the preseason Pac-12 Player of the Year heading into November. Rothstein’s argument is as follows:
“It’s so rare that a player who averaged over 17 points per game after his fourth year opts to come back, but USC has that,” Rothstein said.
We’re not going to disagree with Rothstein, because his logic is sound. What we’re going to do is simply raise the question: Is Boogie Ellis being the Pac-12 Player of the Year the very best outcome for USC hoops?
If a USC player is POY and not an Arizona player, that in itself is very good news. It would likely mean the Trojans beat out the Wildcats for the Pac-12 championship. However, one could make the argument that USC will be its very best self — and will reach its absolute ceiling as a team — if Isaiah Collier is the best player on the team. Collier, not Boogie, is a lottery-pick-level talent. Collier will have the ball in his hands more. Collier will initiate more of the USC offense than Boogie will.
Maybe it’s better if Collier is the Pac-12 Player of the Year.
However, if Boogie — who, as Rothstein noted, is already a proven scorer — makes another big leap forward and elevates his game to another level, that would indicate that Collier is putting him in a position to succeed on a regular basis. It would mean that USC’s most gifted and natural scorer is a much better scorer than he was last year, maybe to the tune of 23 or 24 points per game.
If Boogie does average that many points per game, the only added detail to inquire about would be his efficiency. Is he getting 23 points on 15 shots, or 25? If he’s relatively efficient and scores in the mid-20s consistently, USC is going to reach its potential, or at least come very close to it, this coming season.
There’s really nothing wrong with Rothstein’s argument. His point merely raises a fascinating Boogie-or-Collier discussion which will continue to be a talking point when the season tips off on Nov. 6 against Kansas State.
Big praise for @BoogieEllis from @JonRothstein pic.twitter.com/jHsxSEacZ7
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) July 21, 2023
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