STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men”s basketball team can”t catch a break.
Overshadowed in the Bulldogs” 84-82 loss to LSU on Wednesday was freshman guard Jalen Steele”s knee injury, which was determined to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus after an MRI revealed the damage.
Steele will have surgery in 10-14 days and will rehabilitate for five to six months, a team spokesman said Thursday.
MSU coach Rick Stansbury was hopeful after the game but conceded the worst was likely after seeing Steele go down in the second half.
Steele was fouled in the lane and immediately clutched his left knee. He stayed down for a couple of minutes before trainers helped him off the court.
“It”s not good, whatever it was,” he said.
Steele will be with MSU (14-13, 6-7 Southeastern Conference) at 5 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) when it plays at the University of Tennessee (17-10, 7-6).
Steele worked his way into the starting lineup after Ravern Johnson was benched for two games against LSU and Arkansas.
The Knoxville native averaged 7.5 points and just one turnover per contest in six consecutive starts. He averaged 5.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game this season.
As Steele thrived off extended minutes — he scored 17 at Kentucky — Johnson excelled in his new relief role.
The senior wingman has scored 17.3 points per game in MSU”s past three games and has made 11 of 15 3-pointers.
Teammates had grown comfortable to the switch, as Steele provided another ballhandling option stout on-ball defense.
“It”s worked out well for us,” senior guard Riley Benock said Monday. “I think we”re pretty confident in who”s out there. Starting the game is one thing; it”s not necessarily who”s better or playing better at the time. It”s just a little rhythm we”ve gotten into. When things are working, you don”t really tweak it that much.”
Steele”s injury will send MSU to Knoxville, Tenn., with little guard depth. Brian Bryant is the only back-court regular Stansbury will be able to turn to, but the junior college transfer has played 15 minutes in the past three games. He has failed to score in seven Southeastern Conference games.
MSU freshman guard Shaun Smith didn”t play in three of the past four games. His most extensive work in SEC play came against Arkansas on Feb. 9 when he scored three points in 14 minutes.
MSU will miss Steele”s versatility and work ethic, which Stansbury lauded Monday.
“Jalen will lead by a lot of ways — as a person, but by example because he”s gonna get in the gym and work,” Stansbury said. “He hadn”t been spoiled through any process. No recruiting process. No AAU process. He came from a very disciplined high school program where he”d been coached. Because of that, he”s got a lot of the positive things instilled in him.”
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