Knee Injury Sidelines L.J. Cason for Remainder of Season
2/28/2026 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's basketball sophomore guard L.J. Cason tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at Illinois (Feb. 27) and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season, as announced Saturday (February 28) by David and Meredith Kaplan University of Michigan men's basketball head coach Dusty May.
"First and foremost, our hearts hurt for L.J.," said May. "You never want to see a young man who has poured so much into this program have something like this happen. However, if there's anyone equipped to handle this and the rehab process, it's LJ. He's resilient, he's disciplined, and he has an incredible support system around him."
"This isn't how I wanted my season to end, but I trust God's plan, and I'll attack rehab the same way I approach everything -- with focus and determination," said Cason. "We've got many goals as a team, and I'll be locked in supporting my brothers every step of the way."
Cason was instrumental in the Wolverines capturing the 2026 Big Ten regular-season title during his breakout sophomore campaign. Providing key depth for U-M, he came off the bench in every game, averaging career bests in points (8.4), rebounds (1.9), assists (2.4) and steals (1.0). He shot a career-best 50.3 percent from the field and more than doubled his three-point production from a season ago, knocking down 33 triples after making 15 as a freshman.
The Wolverines head to Iowa on Thursday (March 5) before hosting Michigan State on Sunday (March 8) to close the Big Ten regular-season slate. Having clinched the No. 1 seed, U-M earned a triple bye in the Big Ten Tournament and will open play in the quarterfinals on Friday (March 13).
