The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
Caris LeVert Makes It Back Head coach John Beilein mildly chided the media the day prior to Michigan's 61‑56 win against Purdue Feb. 13. He firmly cautioned that senior guard Caris LeVert would only play when both he and Beilein agreed it was time. Twenty‑four hours later, it was time — just not prime time. LeVert played 11 first‑half min‑ utes, failing to score but grabbing five rebounds and making one as‑ sist. He appeared a bit tentative at times and not quite up to the full rigors of a Big Ten game. "If it was me, you and him play‑ ing three on three at the Y, he'd be really good right now," Beilein said. "But he is not when he's going up and down. I think he plays so fast that it's very difficult for him." Beilein indicated LeVert felt "out of shape and wobbly" during warm‑ ups for the second half, and the coaches kept him on the bench af‑ ter the break. "One and a half practices, you are not ready to play this game," Beilein assured. "You can't cheat this game." He also insisted he wasn't playing games with the media the day before. "I said he'll be ready when he's ready," Beilein noted. "He wasn't ready yet, until after practice yesterday. Then he said, 'I'm going to try it out tomorrow. And if I'm ready in warm‑ups, I'm going to play.' "I had the press conference before practice, and going into that he was not ready. After practice, he said: 'Coach, I just want to try it out.'" LeVert's lower‑leg injury involved a guessing game on his return by media and fans ever since he went down in the first contest of the Big Ten season. Seeing him back on the court, even clearly not yet back up to speed, further elevated Michigan hopes for the final five Big Ten games and the tournaments. — John Borton LeVert played 11 minutes in the first half against Purdue Feb. 13 for his first action since the Big Ten opener, but he did not return to the floor in the second half. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN