The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/614487
MICHIGAN BASKETBALL DERRICK WALTON SHELVED WITH INJURY, OTHERS STILL RECOVERING Michigan got some scary flashbacks to last year in playing without junior point guard Derrick Walton for much of a 66-59 win over North Carolina State Dec. 1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Walton missed the last 13 games due to a foot injury last year, and the Wolverines struggled to a 16-16 season. He suffered a sprained ankle against the Wolfpack, but U-M found a way in the final 22:48 without him. Michigan turned to senior Caris LeVert, sophomore Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and senior Spike Albrecht at the point guard position. LeVert finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, all team highs. "Coach came to me and told me I'd be the lead guard in the second half," LeVert said. "Derrick is our brother out there, and we wanted to get the win for him. He played so well in the first half offensively and defensively. We knew we had to play well to win the game." Beilein credited Abdur-Rahkman for his defense in the second half. He later confirmed Walton's sprain was rather serious. The junior missed a Dec. 5 game against Houston Baptist and didn't practice in the days lead- ing up to a Dec. 8 game with SMU. "He sprained his ankle badly — I don't know what type of grade it would be, but it's sprained and we do not know when he'll be back," Beilein Junior point guard Derrick Walton suffered a severe ankle sprain at North Carolina State Dec. 1 and was sidelined indefinitely. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL