Los Angeles has had a pretty calm week for the most part, but this week’s most surprising update comes from the University of Southern California.
USC basketball guard Chad Baker-Mazara abruptly left the team right before the start of the NCAA tournament. He played 26 games and started 22, leading the Trojans with career-high averages of 18.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Baker-Mazara left after Saturday’s loss to Nebraska a few minutes into the second half. According to USC basketball representatives, Baker-Mazara’s decision to leave was caused by an accumulation of issues over time. Being losers of its last five games, USC has only two more chances in the regular season to improve its tournament resume.
Here’s my prediction: USC will not make it into the NCAA tournament this time around, dropping them from bubble contention to a National Invitation Tournament-bound team. Although a three-game winning streak to open February significantly helped their bubble case, this losing streak has substantially reduced the Trojans’ at-large chances.
With the 11th-best resume in arguably what will be a nine-bid conference, they will just be barely outside the cut. Especially now with Baker-Mazara gone, these last two games will be a struggle. Even if the Trojans beat the Washington Huskies, they will meet their cross-town rival UCLA in their last game.
It has been a few weeks since the Harden-Garland trade. Initially, it had me really worried about how the Los Angeles Clippers would perform for the rest of this season and the next few. However, I will admit my worries have been put to rest for now.
Clippers guard Darius Garland debuted with the Clippers against the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, dropping 12 points, two assists and two rebounds in a 114-101 win. His scoring bursts in crunch time meshed with LA’s balanced attack. However, his five turnovers do stick out like a sore thumb. If he adapts to the team more, he will become even more crucial to the overall composition.
Now that we are in March, it is officially time for the World Baseball Classic Tournament. Pool play will start in the Tokyo Dome, Hiram Burton Stadium in San Juan, Daikin Park in Houston and loanDepot Park in Miami. Pool B and Pool D stand out the most, obviously because the United States is in Pool B and Japan is in Pool D. I expect the US, Japan, and Dominican Republic to lead the pack, with the US determined to claim its second title after the 2023 heartbreak.
Japan currently defends the title with its two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Expect Venezuela and Mexico to do well this time around as well. Los Angeles is sending its star catcher, Will Smith, and now-retired pitcher Clayton Kershaw to make up the Team USA Roster.
It has been a basketball-heavy week once again, but all around, LA continues to be moving at all times.