Chad Baker-Mazara, the leading scorer for the USC Trojans, has reportedly parted ways with the basketball program following an incident in the team’s recent game that involved a hard foul. The nature of his departure remains unclear, with speculation surrounding possible behavior-related issues.
USC’s current season has been challenging, as the team has encountered a rough patch, experiencing a streak of five consecutive losses. Their performance against the spread has also suffered, with the Trojans recording a 1-5 mark over their last six games, which includes a narrow cover by just half a point.
The Trojans are set to face the Washington Huskies as 6.5-point underdogs in their upcoming matchup, with the over/under total at 150.5 points according to DraftKings. Washington has displayed a more favorable performance recently, winning and covering the spread in approximately half of their games throughout the past two months. Notably, the Huskies previously achieved an outright victory at USC back in early December, overcoming a 4.5-point spread.
USC has struggled notably with turnovers, ranking last in the Big Ten in this category, and is also among the lowest in both field goal and three-point shooting percentages. The team’s lack of cohesion on the court has led to critiques of their coaching, and it appears that freshman Alijah Arenas may be more focused on his potential NBA draft prospects than on the team’s current performance.
In the realm of betting, experts have been monitoring these trends closely. Doug Kezirian, a seasoned contributor to the New York Post with over two decades of experience in sports analysis and betting, is advocating for Washington -5.5 as a robust pick for the upcoming game. Kezirian has a notable track record, including successful outcomes in major betting contests and a strong following in the betting community.
As the season unfolds, USC faces significant challenges that could affect its overall trajectory, but the chance for improvement still looms, particularly with upcoming games providing opportunities for redemption.