L.J. Cason’s recent impact is a microcosm of the adversity faced earlier this season

Michigan guard L.J. Cason has had quite the freshman season, but his recent impact off the bench has been key to boosting the Wolverines past their opponents in the postseason:

It’s one thing to follow a coach you have an established relationship with at the level you are playing, but it’s completely different when it comes to uprooting your entire college career before it even starts.

When Dusty May left Florida Atlantic for the Michigan Wolverines, he had a limited amount of time to build a roster with what was left of high school recruiting and the college basketball transfer portal. Competing with other programs for the best players in the country, May first called guys he had an established relationship with, and one of those first calls was to incoming freshman L.J. Cason, a three-star recruit who had just decommitted from May’s former program.

“We built a connection over the years ever since I committed (to May at FAU) right before my senior year (of high school), so that whole year, I built a connection with him,” Cason said during Michigan’s Pro Day back in November. “But also, him believing in me. For him to call me and ask me to come with him to Michigan, going from mid-major to high-major, I talked to my family and it was a no-brainer for me.”

While he could have started right away at other schools, Cason took the time to develop and grow throughout the summer and fall. His knack for being a dynamic ball-handler, scorer and playmaking guard still got him on the court right away, and he averaged more than 14 minutes per game off the bench through Michigan’s non-conference schedule.

However, once Big Ten play started, May shortened his bench. For the next two and a half months, Cason did not see more than eight minutes of game action outside of just one game — the blowout loss at Purdue.

Going from consistent minutes to none at all can be hard on anyone, but Cason didn’t waver in his commitment to May or his confidence in himself.

“Well, if you know L.J. Cason, he’s never going to be unaggressive,” May said after Michigan’s Big Ten Tournament Championship win over Wisconsin. “He’s going to put the pedal to the metal, and we know him, and that’s the beautiful thing about him choosing to join us at Michigan is we know what his DNA is. We know his background. We know who he is to the core, and so we never lost faith. It’s tough to be a freshman, especially at this level. With the glut of older players and the one thing with L.J., he hit that freshman wall and it looked gloomy, I’m not going to lie. And he busted through that thing and found a new energy, and if he didn’t have that substance, we’re not sitting here — another team is on this podium now (as Big Ten Champions).”

Cason began earning minutes after the Wolverines’ first loss to Michigan State. While there was some rust, he slowly progressed from scoring three points against Nebraska to five against Illinois to six vs. Purdue, and eventually to eight against Wisconsin.

“I never know what I’m going to do, what’s going to happen,” Cason said. “I just try to come out and do whatever I can do at the moment. Just read the game, whatever it’s giving to me, whether I’ve got to pass or shoot. That’s what I do.

“Every time I check in, the staff, including coach May, encourage me and tell me to be me. I feel like that’s what I did, and that’s how it came out.”

After narrowly skidding past UC San Diego in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines found their backs against the wall against Texas A&M . Trailing by eight points at the start of the second half, May looked to his bench to provide a spark, and Cason answered the call.

In an eight-minute stretch, Cason scored eight points and tallied an assist to go along with stifling defense against Aggies star guard Wade Taylor IV. When Cason finally subbed out, Michigan trailed by only four points, and the Wolverines proceeded to outscore Texas A&M, 30-13, in the final nine minutes to win, 91-79 .

“Yeah, I thought L.J. ignited this run,” May said after the A&M win. “We were flat … so we wanted to get to our bench. We trust those guys. We know how good they are … but (Cason’s) energy, ability to get in the paint, and decision-making were great. And that started the run.”

Point guard Tre Donalson added: “I feel like (Cason) caught them off guard because they didn’t really respect him. And him just being able to attack the opportunity is the biggest thing.”

With 11 points off the bench, Cason had the most impactful game of his young career in the season’s biggest moment.

Now preparing to face No. 1 Auburn in the Sweet Sixteen, the Wolverines will need to continue to be all hands on deck to keep their postseason run going.