Auburn's Baker-Mazara eager for another March Madness opportunity

AUBURN, Ala. – Moments after Auburn won the SEC Tournament championship last March, Chad Baker-Mazara sat on the court at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and sobbed. He was on FaceTime with his family in the Dominican Republic, sharing the celebration with them, and could not hold back his emotions.  

“It was an experience of a lifetime because my dad always dreamed of me playing in the SEC,” Baker-Mazara said. “Being able to win a championship in the SEC and to be named All-Tournament Team, that was big time. I was just soaking it up and enjoying that moment with them. Even though they weren’t physically there with me, I know they were with me.”

Baker-Mazara’s father, Derrek, played basketball at South Carolina State from 1984-85, and it’s been one of Chad’s main goals to follow in his dad’s footsteps and take it a little further than he did. 

Last year was Baker-Mazara’s first at Auburn. After stops at Duquesne, San Diego State and junior college, he finally made it to the SEC and found a home on The Plains. 

“This is home,” he said recently. “I feel comfortable. The guys here make it feel like home. The coaches here treat me like their own son. The culture that we’ve got here is more than a basketball team. It’s a family. I love it here.”

It was a breakthrough season for Baker-Mazara in 2023-24, culminating with the SEC title, but it was a season that ended abruptly for Auburn as the Tigers were knocked out in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. It was a low point for Baker-Mazara who received a Flagrant 2 in the first half, ending his day early and ultimately his season. 

However, looking back, it was a moment he’s learned from and drawn motivation from. 

“Just learning how to keep my emotions in control a little better,” Baker-Mazara said. “Not make a decision based off my pride and my emotions. Just trying to keep my cool on the court.”

Baker-Mazara credits the Auburn fans and the Jungle specifically for sticking with him at one of his lowest points. 

“They’re incredible,” he said. “It’s the best fan base in the whole country. The Jungle shows a lot of love, especially to me. They’ve been with me since I came here. Even through my lapses throughout the season, they’ve been staying in my corner and helping me and supporting me through my ups and downs.”

Baker-Mazara and his teammates have responded to last year’s early exit in March by putting together what has been a historic season and one of the best in program history. 

Auburn ascended to the No. 1 ranking in January and has not looked back. The Tigers are 26-2, 14-1 in the SEC, and have 15 Quad 1 wins on the year. With three games remaining in the regular season, they are the favorite to be the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament. 

Baker-Mazara, coming off a 22-point performance in Wednesday’s win over Ole Miss, has played a major role in the team’s success. He’s second on the team with 12.7 points per game and recently went over 1,000 points for his college career.

“It’s been pretty fun being able to accomplish many things throughout the season with the team,” he said. “I’m grateful God put us in this position – being the No. 1 team in the nation, having a great coaching staff, the guys are bought in to their plan. It’s a blessing.” 

For Baker-Mazara, the ultimate motivator remains his family. His mother, his father, his grandfather and his sisters. Before every game, he tries to talk to his grandfather, his mother and his father – in that order. It’s the last thing he does before he turns his music on.  

“I always try to get my 'I love you' from my grandfather, my blessing from my mom, and my coaching from my dad,” he said. 

Family is what drives Baker-Mazara to be better. It’s his why on and off the court. 

“I’m just trying to take care of them,” he added. “They took care of me my whole life. My mission here is to be able to provide the world for my family. Obviously, that helps me and my motivation – seeing my mom and my dad proud of me doing what I love.”

There is still plenty to accomplish for Baker-Mazara and this Auburn team this season. He wants to win at Kentucky on Saturday. He wants to sweep the season series against Alabama. He wants to win the SEC regular season title and go back-to-back at the SEC tournament. And ultimately, he wants to make a run in March Madness. 

But regardless of what happens, Baker-Mazara wants to leave his mark at Auburn. 

“He was crazy, but he never cheated Auburn,” Baker-Mazara said when asked how he wants to be remembered. “He always left everything out there on the court.”

Hear it from the man himself 👀😏 https://t.co/aNTRv1rPW2 pic.twitter.com/WVkV9tZ5lg

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) February 27, 2025