Isaiah Livers out indefinitely with groin injury

Michigan Wolverines forward Isaiah Livers suffered a groin injury during Michigan’s game last week versus Presbyterian, and a program spokesman announced on Friday that Livers will be out indefinitely.

The Wolverines have one last tune-up game against U-Mass Lowell on Sunday before Big Ten play resumes on Jan. 5 versus Michigan State.

“We’re gonna miss him. We don’t know for how long, with his presence out there on the floor and his skillset,” head coach Juwan Howard said on Friday. “He’s been shooting well out there on the floor. A junior, a guy played in a lot of big games. Been a starter for us and he’s been having a really good season.”

Howard said that he doesn’t have a new starting lineup drawn up at the moment, but the team has a next man up mentality. “For us, we have the mentality, and I’m sure you guys have heard me say this before, we’re the next man up,” Howard explained. “We’ll give guys like Brandon (Johns) and Colin (Castleton) an opportunity to step up in that role. Do it by committee. We trust the guys that are playing behind Isaiah. The work they’ll be getting in practice and the game reps they’re going to receive, they will be able to give us the products that we need at that four spot.”

Livers has had a great season to this point, averaging 13.6 points per game, with a FG% of 50.9 and 3PT% of 50.0. Livers is also hitting a stellar 90% of his free throws.

While Michigan could use his production in the lineup again as soon as possible, Howard said they’ll be patient with his rehab. “We’re just going to keep him positive and keep him healthy. He’s going to be very disciplined with his rehab treatment,” Howard said. “He wants to be out there. We need him. He knows it, we know it. He needs us. We need each other.”