Why did Chad Baker-Mazara leave USC basketball? What to know of Troja… — and more

Chad Baker-Mazara's collegiate career appears to have come to an unceremonious end on Sunday, March 1.

Southern California announced that the sixth-year and graduate transfer is no longer with the program, following his decision to not re-enter Saturday's 82-67 loss against Nebraska.

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Baker-Mazara's exit from the team comes at an interesting time for the Trojans. The team had been on the first four out in USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology, but have lost five games in a row.

Here's what you need to know about why Baker-Mazara left USC:

Why did Chad Baker-Mazara leave USC?

In his first year with USC ―and his sixth collegiate season ―Baker-Mazara led the Trojans with 18.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. All of his averages were career highs, as he started 22 of 26 games he appeared in for USC.

However, against Nebraska after scoring 14-first half points, Baker-Mazara exited the game three minutes into the second half after falling hard on the baseline while trying to chase down Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort. He went to the locker room and never re-entered the game.

"He said he couldn’t go," head coach Eric Musselman told reporters after the game.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times' Ryan Kartje, "it wasn’t any one incident, but an accumulation of issues that led to Baker-Mazara’s departure."

Does Chad Baker-Mazara have any eligibility left?

After playing six collegiate seasons, Baker-Mazara is out of eligibility, effectively ending his college career.

How old is Chad Baker-Mazara?

Baker-Mazara was born on Jan. 27, 2000. That made him 26 years old during the 2025-26 college basketball season.

Chad Baker-Mazara stats

Here's a look at Baker-Mazara's stats in his six collegiate basketball seasons:

• 2020-21 (Duquesne): 9.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game on 43.8% shooting, 41.7% 3-point shooting in 24.4 minutes per game (15 games, 13 starts)
• 2021-22 (San Diego State): 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game on 42% shooting, 39.3% 3-point shooting in 12.8 minutes per game (31 games, 0 starts)
• 2022-23 (Northwest Florida State): Did not play
• 2023-24 (Auburn): 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game on 45.2% shooting, 41.8% 3-point shooting in 21.7 minutes per game (35 games, 9 starts)
• 2024-25 (Auburn): 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks per game on 44.8% shooting, 38.1% 3-point shooting in 25.6 minutes per game (38 games, 34 starts)
• 2025-26 (USC): 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game on 44.4% shooting, 38.1% 3-point shooting in 29.6 minutes per game (26 games, 22 starts)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Chad Baker-Mazara depart USC basketball?

High Point had struggled for more than two decades to get to the Big Dance before finally breaking through last year. As the Big South Men’s Tournament descends on Johnson City, Tennessee, High P looks like the favorites again, having dropped just four games all year and one game in conference. That loss was to second-place Winthrop, which pushed HPU for the conference title until the end.

Will High Point repeat, will Winthrop snatch away a bid, or will someone else pull off a huge surprise?

1. High Point (15-1, 27-4 overall)

New coach? New team? No problem. High Point lost its dominant coach in Alan Huss and eight of their top nine scorers only for new coach Flynn Clayman to construct the league’s most dominant offense and defense through the portal. (Their leading scorer, Terry Anderson at just under 16 a game, was on the roster last year but averaged less than five points, 10th most on the team.) The Panthers lead the country nationally in turnover margin and have won 11 straight since losing at Winthrop in January.

2. Winthrop (13-3, 21-10 overall)

Dominant as High Point was on paper, Winthrop kept pace with them basically until the last week of the season, when a two-point road loss in High Point was enough to seal the Eagles’ fate. Winthrop is buoyed by breakout star and POY candidate Logan Duncomb, who was averaging under three points a game in his first three collegiate seasons before breaking out for 18.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. They surround him with scoring guards, including 5-foot-9 electric guard Kareem Rozier (13.3 points, 3.4 assists) and shoot more free throws than anyone else in the league.

3. Radford (9-7, 16-15 overall)

Zach Chu, in his first year, matched the conference record of his predecessor Darris Nichols’ final season at Radford. Led by dynamic guard duo Dennis Parker (18.7 points, 5.9 rebounds) and Del Jones (16.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists), Radford gets to the line frequently, with a 38th ranked free throw rate (one of five teams in the top 60) but still lags behind High Point and Winthrop in just about every metric.

4. UNC Asheville (8-8, 14-16 overall)

They’ll see that dynamic duo and raise them a dynamic trio: Kameron Taylor, Justin Wright and Toyaz Solomon each average at least 16.3 points a game, the only trio to average even as much as 14 points. Not a ton stands out about this team metrics-wise, other than slow pace and low 3-pointer rate, but they will get a bit of a home-court advantage being just down the road.

5. Longwood (8-8, 16-15 overall)

Along with Winthrop, the Lancers are at the top of the conference in overall rebounding percentage. Expect a ton of turnovers in their games – they’re top 40 in turnovers forced rate, but bottom 40 in turnover percentage on offense.

6. Presbyterian (7-9, 14-17 overall)

Jonah Pierce averaging nearly a triple double (16.2 points, 9.6 rebounds) has been a bright for the Blue Hose this year. An interesting stat: they have the best 3-point shooting percentage in the league this year, but shoot the fewest three pointers in the league.

7. Charleston Southern (6-10, 15-16 overall)

Saah Nimley’s Buccaneer squad plays with a top-20 pace, and is 63rd in eFG% (second-best in the Big South) and 25th in eFG% defense. Good combination, right? Well, just one problem: their turnover rate is second-worst in the entire country.

8. USC Upstate (5-11, 13-18 overall)

Not a whole lot went right for coach Marty Richter’s Spartans, who were near the bottom 30 in Bart Torvik offensive efficiency. Upstate’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance will likely have to wait another year.

9. Gardner-Webb (1-15, 3-28 overall)

Here’s a bit of trivia: Gardner-Webb has the worst record of any team to make their conference tournament this year. They’ve won just one D-I game (against USC Upstate in January.) Don’t expect a whole lot.