UCLA Basketball: USC's "Bruin Killer" May Not Play During Rivalry Game
Just a day ahead of the 8-11 USC Trojans' Saturday evening meeting with your 8-11 UCLA Bruins, the status of the Cardinal and Gold's best player remains up in the air.
Per Luca Evans of The Orange County Register, USC head coach Andy Enfield revealed that fifth-year guard Boogie Ellis, the Trojans' leading scorer, is considered a game-time decision with a hamstring injury.
According to Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin is preparing for the bout as if the 6'3" point guard will play.
"He’s had ample time to recover, I think, at this point and he’s been a Bruin killer, so the basket gets real big when he sees the four letters playing against him," Cronin said.
Across his five career bouts against UCLA, during which his team has gone 2-3, Ellis is averaging 16.2 points on 27-of-56 shooting from the floor, four rebounds, 2.4 assists and one steal.
Ellis has missed his club's last three contests. His starting backcourt colleague Isaiah Collier is also on the shelf at present, though he is going to be sidelined longer as he recovers from a hand surgery. In the duo's stead, USC has started sophomore Oziyah Sellers and freshman Bronny James.
