Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl received some disappointing news on Thursday as standout player Chad Baker-Mazara officially entered the transfer portal. This development comes shortly after a strong NCAA Tournament run by the Tigers under Pearl’s leadership, which culminated in a Final Four appearance.
Auburn began the tournament as a top seed and managed to secure wins over Michigan State, Michigan, Creighton, and Alabama State. Their impressive journey ended in the Final Four with a loss to the eventual national champions, the Florida Gators.
Despite the tournament success, Auburn has faced key roster losses in the offseason. Johni Broome, a Naismith Player of the Year finalist, and standout freshman Tahaad Pettiford both declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. Now, Baker-Mazara’s decision to transfer adds to the challenges Pearl faces heading into the next season.
Baker-Mazara shared his gratitude in a social media post, thanking God, his teammates, the coaching staff, and the Auburn community for their support over the past two years. He concluded his message by officially announcing his intent to enter the transfer portal, saying, “Gracias Auburn!”
Originally joining Auburn from San Diego State before the 2023–24 season, Baker-Mazara quickly made an impact. In his first year with the Tigers, he averaged 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. This past season, he improved his numbers, posting 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
In what would be his final appearance with Auburn, during the Final Four loss to Florida, Baker-Mazara delivered a strong performance, scoring 18 points along with one rebound and two assists. His departure marks a significant loss for an Auburn team looking to build on recent success.
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