USC Basketball: Boogie Ellis Says Trojans Are "Not Good Right Now"

The Trojans are heading on a downward spiral early this season.

Your USC Trojans are stuck in the mud at the moment. The Trojans dropped their second consecutive game, this time to the Long Beach State 49ers, 84-79, in overtime yesterday.

The Trojans were in complete control of the game in the first half but surrendered 44 second-half points after only giving up 30 in the first to lose their lead and ultimately the game in overtime. It was not ideal, as they played in front of a sold-out home crowd at the Galen Center. 

USC has not played a good brand of basketball all season long, and their fifth-year guard, Boogie Ellis, couldn't help but be brutally honest about his squad to USC insider Connor Morrissette. 

Boogie Ellis: "We're not a good team right now."

— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) December 11, 2023

And frankly, Ellis is right. The Trojans are currently the 67th-ranked team in the country in points per game, 114th in three-point shooting percentage, 110th in opponent effective field goal percentage, and 291st in opponent offensive rebounds per game. 

The only category the Trojans were superior in was rebounding, but they were slightly less efficient in field goal shooting and three-point shooting, had one more turnover than the 49ers, and shot 20-for-26 from the free throw line, resulting in 55.6%. 

The only bright spot of the game was the return of their freshman guard, Bronny James. 

The Trojans aren't elite in any significant category, and their overall play shows it in a major way. USC has been unable to collect a win in December, and it doesn't get any easier. They’ll take on the Auburn Tigers this Sunday at Neville Arena.  

Don't forget to join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Trojans!