Michigan guard Caris LeVert takes the floor in warmups alongside strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson for the Wolverines' road game at Ohio State on Tuesday night. (Brendan F. Quinn | MLive.com)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Caris LeVert's return is quite complete.
The saga continues.
One day after saying he expected to play in Michigan's key Big Ten road game at Ohio State, but that he'll continue to be a game-time decision for the remainder of the season, LeVert is out for tonight's game.
The 6-foot-7 guard did not participate in pregame warmups at Value City Center. With just over 20 minutes remaining until tip-off, he emerged from the locker room in warmups and is officially out against the Buckeyes.
After missing 11 games with what the school has only referred to as a lower left leg injury, LeVert stepped back into the Wolverines' lineup on Saturday in a win over Purdue. He played 11 minutes, grabbing five rebounds to go with one assists.
On Monday, coach John Beilein noted, "Pain is still going to be his guide. If he's feeling any soreness anywhere in his body, we'll pull him out and wait. It's important that he takes his time in getting back to full strength."
LeVert sat out from Dec. 30 to Feb. 13 with his latest injury — one that followed a trend of past problems with his left foot. In 2014, he played through the end of the season on a stress fracture before undergoing surgery in the offseason. Last year, he suffered a fracture in the foot that cost him the second half of his junior year.
"I was a little nervous getting back out there," LeVert said Monday. "I don't really have a great game rhythm right now, but it's coming back to me." of his return against Purdue, adding that he felt a "little bit of soreness" after the game.
"I wouldn't say that I'm all the way back, but I'm working to get there each and every day," he said.