ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team just suffered a monumental blow, as one of their main cogs in the machine that led them to an outright Big Ten regular season championship has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a significant injury.
Back-up point guard L.J. Cason tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the Wolverines’ victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday (Feb. 27), announced the University of Michigan on Feb. 28, 2026.
Recommended Videos
Head coach Dusty May spoke of Cason’s impact and how much he will be missed as the Wolverines battle for a Big Ten Tournament and possibly an NCAA national championship.
“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.”
Cason spoke about the news on Saturday, saying it is God’s plan.
“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.”
The sophomore guard was a key reserve during Michigan’s breakout season and helped the Wolverines secure the 2026 Big Ten regular-season title.
He came off the bench in every game and posted career highs in scoring (8.4 points), assists (2.4), rebounds (1.9), and steals (1.0).
He shot a career-best 50.3% from the field and made 33 three-pointers after making 15 as a freshman.
Michigan, which clinched the Big Ten’s No. 1 seed, earned a triple bye in the conference tournament and will open in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 13.
The Wolverines travel to Iowa on Thursday, March 5, then host Michigan State on Sunday, March 8, to close the regular season.
Who will step up in his absence?