Expectations for the USC Trojans coming into the 2025-26 college basketball season weren’t top of the conference. They were at least to be a competitive team with talent across the lineup. That talent was headlined by the likes of super senior transfer Chad Baker-Mazara, along with a solid freshman class for Head Coach Eric Musselman, which included the son of Gilbert Arenas.
A hot start, including winning the Maui Invitational, was impressive for USC. Now they are on the brink of missing the NCAA tournament altogether. That, however, might not be the biggest problem for the Trojans right now.
What Went Wrong For USC And Chad Baker-Mazara This Season?
It would be one thing to talk about some of the obstacles USC has had to overcome this season. It all began at the start of the season. When Aljah Arenas was sidelined with a major leg injury. Despite Arenas being out for nearly half the season. Luckily, the Trojans had others who could shoulder the load while he was out.
That included Baker-Mazara, who quickly became the top scorer for USC. His performance in Maui was special as he was named the MVP of that holiday tournament. The win in Maui was huge, as the Trojans started the season 9-0, heading into early conference play. That was where all the momentum they had built up started to fizzle.
Not to mention, USC’s struggles in the Big Ten when they traveled East. From blowout losses when they visited both Michigan and Michigan State, to losing three of four games during a very tough stretch in late January. They are currently on a five-game losing streak with two games left in the regular season. It’s getting shaky for the Trojans, not to mention the massive news that broke over the weekend, after their most recent loss to No. 12 Nebraska.
Not What You Want To Hear
Despite having Baker-Mazara and Arenas leading the team in scoring with 14 points apiece on Saturday. USC came up short 67-82 after leading the Huskers early. As it turns out, those 14 points for Chad were ultimately his last in a Trojan uniform.
Matters seemed to be more complicated for Baker-Mazara, who appeared to reinjure his leg, which had plagued him throughout the season, during the second half of the Nebraska game. The university sent out a release on Sunday, stating that Chad Baker-Mazara was no longer a member of the program.
Chad Baker-Mazara is no longer a member of the USC men’s basketball program, the school announced Sunday.
The 26-year-old Mazara started 22 games and averaged 18.5 PPG for the Trojans this season. pic.twitter.com/wghaCqpmDL
— ESPN (@espn) March 1, 2026
That information was later corroborated by a report by Ryan Kartje from the Los Angeles Times. In fact, Baker-Mazara was dismissed from the team. According to Kartje, it was due to an accumulation of issues during the team’s five-game losing streak.
That is a massive blow, not only because of how important he was to the team, but also because he was the leading scorer throughout the season. He averaged 18.5 points in 26 games this season.
What’s Next For USC?
Unlike Michigan, which won the Big Ten with a roster made up of several transfers paired with young guards, USC appears to have made a mess of things.
USC is 18-11 on the season, with two games remaining at Washington and a home clash with rival UCLA. I’m not saying they aren’t going to be dancing, but to lose a player to dismissal this late in the season can’t be a good thing.
Arenas has found a nice rhythm, but can others like Kam Woods and Jordan Marsh step up and take over what is essentially a 20-point scorer a night player?
Time will tell, but USC has had a long list of issues pop up this season.
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
