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Matt McMahon suspends Jalen Cook, redshirts Daimion Collins

On3 imageby:Matthew Brune•03/04/24•

MatthewBrune_

Jalen Cook LSU basketball
Jalen Cook LSU basketball

LSU continues to fight for seeding in the SEC Tournament, but on Monday afternoon, Matt McMahon announced that junior guard Jalen Cook is suspended from the team for failure of not meeting the requirements McMahon has in place for the program.

Cook missed the first 10 games of the season as he awaited his pending two-time transfer eligibility waiver to be granted, then played in 13 of the next 14 games, before missing the last five games. McMahon continued to say Cook was dealing with a hamstring injury and was questionable throughout that period, but on Saturday against Vanderbilt, Cook was not with the team on the trip and on Monday McMahon announced he was suspended.

When asked about a potential return for Cook, McMahon said the situation will be evaluated on a day-by-day basis. With only two games left in the regular season, it seems unlikely Cook would return outside of a potential NIT run, but LSU has gained a rhythm with him on the sideline, winning four of its last five.

Other injury notes

Daimion Collins

Matt McMahon says center Daimion Collins meets the criteria to receive a medical redshirt. 

He says that is the plan for Collins after he’s played in only six games and missed the year with a dislocated shoulder. Says his rehab is on schedule to be back for the summer.

The injury to Collins limited the potential depth of LSU’s frontcourt this season, but overall, Hunter Dean and Will Baker have been solid options rotating to the five. With both being seniors, there’s a hope from McMahon that Collins can come back ready to play a major role in the Tigers 2024-25 season.

Carlos Stewart

Matt McMahon says guard Carlos Stewart continues to rehab from the knee injury that has held him out and is ruled out for the season.

Stewart played just 13 games this season, starting nine of those, but shot just 28 percent from three and had just one game scoring more than eight points. Stewart still has another year of eligibility, so we’ll await his decision on the 2024-25 season after the year concludes.

What’s next

LSU closes the regular season with a road game at Arkansas on Wednesday night followed by a home game against Missouri on Saturday. The Tigers currently sit at 8-8 on the year and have a chance to get to .500 or potentially break into the top half of the league before heading into the SEC Tournament begins next week. LSU still has hopes of postseason basketball, with the NCAA Tournament as a long shot, but a real chance at making the NIT with the new tournament format that includes 32 teams and several more high-major programs than before.

LSU has nine scholarship players available for the final stretch with these three players out and the redshirting of freshman Corey Chest.

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