USC's Boogie Ellis: 'I feel like my life's on the line' against Michigan State

LOS ANGELES — After USC's Monday afternoon practice, point guard Boogie Ellis shared his mindset heading into the Trojans' NCAA Tournament game against Michigan State.

"I feel like my life's on the line," he said. "I feel like I have a chance to prove something, to lead my team to a deep run. I'm ready to go and I'm locked in."

Ellis's college basketball life is indeed on the line because this year's tournament will be his last. Even though he has one year of eligibility remaining, Ellis won't use it electing instead to turn pro after the season.

So that means the Trojans' March Madness games will be the senior's final chance to, as he said, 'prove something' in a year's he's already proved so much.

Multiple times this season USC head coach Andy Enfield has referred to Ellis as the most improved player in the Pac-12 — and the numbers back up the claim.

Ellis has increased his points per game total from 12.5 as a junior to 18.0 as a senior. His rebounds per game, steals, field goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage averages have all gone up as well.

He's made the jump. And he's playing his best basketball at the best possible time averaging 24 points per game over USC's last 12 games.

Friday's game against No. 7 seed Michigan State will provide Ellis with a chance to do something he's never done before: win an NCAA Tournament game. In his only other appearance in the tournament, Ellis and No. 7 seed USC lost in the first round to No. 10 seed Miami a year ago 68-66. Ellis struggled mightily scoring only three points on 1-of-6 shooting in 14 minutes.

A year later in a new role and with a new mentality, Ellis shared his thoughts on what No. 10 seed USC needs to do to beat Michigan State and give this Trojans core their first tournament win:

"Defense and toughness, that's all I believe," he said. "Everything else will take care of itself."