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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan will have Big Ten play from here on out until the NCAA Tournament in March, which means the Wolverines will have to be at their best.
The one problem, however, is that the maize and blue are missing one of their best players.
Junior forward Isaiah Livers was injured early in the Presbyterian game last month, and his absence certainly didn’t help matters any on Sunday when the Wolverines lost in East Lansing to rival MSU, 87-69.
With Purdue coming to town on Thursday, head coach Juwan Howard said he doesn’t have any indication on when Livers will be ready to suit up once again.
“No update yet, no,” Howard said. “We’re just praying that he’ll just keep healing day-by-day, which he is. He’s improving day-by-day and we’re going to see how it goes from there.”
While that doesn’t sound promising, it doesn’t mean that Livers is officially out against the Boilermakers.
Howard says he’s been too focused on everything else surrounding the team to come to a formal conclusion as to whether Michigan’s star forward will be in action on Thursday night or not.
“Actually, a decision hasn’t been made at all,” Howard said. “They’ve been in school. I’ve been locked in a lot of film on Purdue and just been focused on that and how we can get better as a team. Writing up the practice plan, having the coaches meeting. Going in (getting) a little workout here and there. Passing out donuts (on campus)! It’s been a long day. I haven’t thought about it.”
Should Livers continue to sit out, Howard is confident that the bench will continue to pick the team up.
The last two games, sophomore Brandon Johns has gotten the nod, and Howard insists that the team is just as confident with him and the other players they’ve brought in in rotation with Livers unable to go.
“Next man up!” Howard said. “We have a group, a team and more importantly a group of guys on that roster that knows our sets and I feel very comfortable with who goes in the game. I’m also confident when the ball is in certain guys’ hands, they’re gonna make the right decision with it.”
Michigan and Purdue will tip-off at 7PM EST at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Thursday. The game will be nationally televised on FS1.