In a move that has sent shockwaves through college basketball, USC announced on March 1 that star wing Chad Baker-Mazara has been dismissed from the program. The decision marks a sudden and controversial end to one of the nation’s most productive and traveled athletes.
The dismissal comes at a time when Baker-Mazara was playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting 44.4% from the field and a remarkable 38.1% from beyond the arc.
His season was highlighted by a dominant performance at the Maui Invitational in November, where he was named Tournament MVP after leading the Trojans to a title. For a program still looking to establish its identity in a new conference, Baker-Mazara appeared to be an essential piece as a high-energy, spark plug with a lethal shooting touch and free-throw average of 89.5%.
However, his departure came after the Trojans’ Feb. 28 loss to Nebraska at home. After a hard fall in the second half, Baker-Mazara seemingly checked himself out of the game and went to the locker room. When he came back out, he chose to sit on the sideline with the fans, out of uniform and dressed in street clothes.
Baker-Mazara’s exit from USC adds a final, turbulent chapter to a collegiate journey that is unprecedented in the modern transfer portal era. Los Angeles was his fifth stop in six years following stints at Duquesne (2020-21), San Diego State (2021-22), Northwest Florida State (2022-23) and Auburn (2023-25).
At Auburn, he became a fan favorite, helping the Tigers to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2024-25 season. His ability to adapt to different systems and levels of play makes him a tantalizing prospect for NBA scouts, but his reputation for emotional volatility – both on and off the court – might stain his chances.
Following the Trojans’ 91-72 loss to Washington on Wednesday night – their first game without Baker-Mazara – USC has now dropped six consecutive games and hasn’t won since Feb. 8. In the loss to Washington, USC struggled with a shrunken and incapable bench that allowed the Huskies to outscore the Trojans by 22 points in the second half.
His absence isn’t just a statistical hit. It’s a structural collapse for USC as he was the only player providing consistent playmaking after the early-season loss of junior guard Rodney Rice. Without him, the scoring burden has shifted heavily to freshman guard Alijah Arenas who is averaging 13.9 points per contest.
USC will conclude the regular season at home against UCLA on March 7, a mandatory, must-win game if the Trojans are to keep any faint NIT or NCAA Tournament hope alive.
Realistically, the Trojans must now win four or five games at the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago to secure an automatic bid.
In the current projected 18-team Big Ten Tournament bracket, USC is slated for a March 11 matchup against No. 13 Minnesota.
Annenberg Media reached out to the men’s basketball team for a statement, but the request was not fulfilled.