Eric Musselman knew good and well this could happen.
So did Arkansas basketball fans. Or most fans of college hoops, for that matter.
There’s a reason Chad Baker-Mazara, now 26 years old, has chosen to hang around college basketball forever. His antics, like his game, don’t exactly scream “high-level professional.”
Starting in 2020, the Dominican forward spent one season apiece at Duquesne, San Diego State and Northwest Florida State C.C. before a two-year stint at Auburn. It was during this time on the Plains that Baker-Mazara built an ironclad reputation as a feather ruffler. He transferred to Southern Cal for his sixth and (mercifully) final year of eligibility.
With the NCAA Tournament close on the horizon, however, Musselman dismissed Baker-Mazara from the team Sunday. The 6-foot-7 wing is the Trojans’ leading scorer, averaging 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 stocks (steals plus blocks) while shooting 44% from the field and 38% from behind the arc.
USC (18-11, 7-11 Big Ten) has lost its last five games and sits at the top of the “next four out” in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s latest projection, which gives the Trojans an outside shot at sneaking into the tournament field with a solid end to the season.
Gilbert Arenas, a retired three-time NBA All-Star who played for Musselman on the Golden State Warriors in the early 2000s, wasn’t pleased with his former coach’s decision. He knows whatever slim shot his son, USC guard Alijah Arenas, still had at making March Madness just went down the toilet.
“I don’t know who he cussed out, but get over it,” the elder Arenas said in a passionate rant posted to Twitter. “When you’re the best player on the team, whatever you say, you’re right. If he says those [expletive] suck, he’s right! Give him the ball and get the f*** out the way. That’s the offense.”
Just as they were during Musselman’s last years at Arkansas, injuries have been the bane of his existence this season at USC.
The most scary one involved Alijah, a five-star freshman, who didn’t make his debut until late January after tearing his meniscus in a car crash back in April. Arenas is averaging 13.9 points and 1.9 assists in 11 games, but is shooting just 34% from the field. If there’s any solace for his father, the Trojans will likely be leaning on Alijah to carry the torch with Baker-Mazara out.
