Weird Chad Baker-Mazara information could burst USC's March Insanity bubble

[ad_1] The USC Trojans' slim possibilities of making the NCAA Event simply grew to become even thinner.

Within the second half of the Trojans' 82-67 dwelling loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, guard Chad Baker-Mazara appeared to exit with an damage. Now, he is now not with the staff. On Sunday, USC confirmed he has left this system.

Why did Chad Baker-Mazara depart USC? The rationale for his departure stays unclear. USC did not provide any clarification when it made the announcement.

"We have now nothing extra so as to add at the moment," USC spokesperson Kristen Keller texted Beth Harris of the Related Press.

In Saturday's sport, Baker-Mazara appeared to inform Trojans head coach Eric Musselman that he could not re-enter after a tough fall following a block on Cornhuskers ahead Pryce Sandfort (through ESPN's Jeff Brozello) . He then sat close to injured junior guard Rodney Rice in an space with followers as a substitute of the bench earlier than leaving the sector.

"He stated he could not go," Musselman stated of Baker-Mazara (through Borzello). The coach added he had not spoken with the staff's coach about his standing.

When requested why Baker-Mazara sat with followers as a substitute of with the staff, the coach stated there weren't sufficient chairs on the bench. No matter contributed to the guard's departure, it is coming at a foul time for USC.

How Chad Baker-Mazara's exit hurts USC's NCAA Event probabilities The Trojans (18-11, 7-11 Massive Ten) wanted a late-season push to re-enter the NCAA Event dialog. USC has misplaced 5 straight video games and is now thought of an extended shot to make the match until it wins the Massive Ten Event, which might assist it safe an computerized bid. In a narrative printed Sunday, ESPN's Neil Paine reported the Trojans have a 14% probability of clinching an at-large bid within the "Massive Dance."

Baker-Mazara, 26, was poised to play an enormous half throughout USC's ultimate two regular-season video games and the Massive Ten Event. He had assumed the No. 1 function on offense since Rice (who averaged 20.3 factors per sport in six contests this season) suffered a season-ending shoulder damage in December. After 26 video games, the guard was logging a team-leading 18.5 PPG.