Gonzaga prepares for loaded USC squad: 'They're tough guards'

The Zags and Trojans tipoff at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Las vegas

Ryan Nembhard finished with a season-high 22 points and Nolan Hickman maintained his double-digit scoring streak with 13 points in No. 11 Gonzaga's 81-65 victory over CSU Bakersfield on Tuesday. 

Nembhard and Hickman have orchestrated much of the team's offense this season, combining to average seven assists per game and receiving the most playing time. 

After helping the Zags (5-1) get past the Roadrunners, the two junior guards turn their sights to Saturday's neutral-site matchup against USC (4-2) at the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational (7 p.m. PST). 

The Trojans have their own dynamic backcourt duo with fifth-year Boogie Ellis and freshman Isaiah Collier, who average 20.2 and 18.2 points per game, respectively. 

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"They're tough guards," Nembhard said. "Two guys that like to score the ball. It'll probably be a good battle and test for us."

Ellis, who was the fourth-leading scorer in the Pac-12 last season, is shooting a career-best 40% from 3-point range on eight attempts per game. The San Diego, California, product regularly hunts his own shot around the perimeter and is comfortable taking 3s off the dribble or the catch. 

Collier, the No. 1 player in ESPN's 2023 recruiting rankings, is a big-bodied guard at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. He often uses his frame to attack downhill toward the rim, attempting 75% of his field goals from inside the 3-point arc.

Starting alongside Ellis and Collier is junior guard Kobe Johnson, who's third on the team with 14.8 points per game. Ellis, Collier and Johnson account for more than 70% of the Trojans' total scoring output this season. 

USC could add freshman guard Bronny James to the mix on Saturday. James has not been cleared to play after suffering a cardiac arrest in July, but he has participated in pregame warmups the past two games.

"Yes he is with us and he's studying the game," USC coach Andy Enfield told the Associated Press. "He's watching his teammates participate and play and he'll be out there hopefully pretty soon."

"[They have] a bunch of guys who can make plays," said Gonzaga head coach Mark Few of the Trojans. "... They've got some great experience. It'll be a huge challenge. That's a really talented basketball team." 

On the defensive end, 6-foot-11 forward Joshua Morgan has been a dominant presence in the paint for USC. He's averaging 3.3 blocks per game, which places him third in the country. 

The Trojans are coming off a 72-70 loss against Oklahoma in the championship game of the Rady Children’s Invitational, which was decided by a last-second putback. 

It was a rough outing for USC's starting guards. Collier finished with 10 points and committed six turnovers, while Ellis and Johnson missed a combined 15 shots. 

Before facing the Zags, the Trojans host Eastern Washington on Wednesday. 

Gonzaga's game against USC is part of a doubleheader, with Washington facing No. 20 Colorado State in the opener of the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Zags and Trojans tip off at 7 p.m.

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