Third-seeded Michigan will be without several key cogs on Saturday afternoon when it faces second-seeded Vanderbilt in an NIT second-round game at Nashville, Tenn.
Guards Kobe Bufkin (ankle), Jett Howard (ankle) and Isaiah Barnes (leg) have been ruled out versus the Commodores (21-14).
Guards Dug McDaniel and Joey Baker likely will be tasked with shouldering more of the load for the Wolverines (18-15) on Saturday.
Bufkin recorded 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Michigan in its 90-80 first-round win over Toledo on Tuesday. It was Bufkin’s third showing of 23 points or more in his last five games, including a career-high 28 scored on Feb. 26 in an 87-79 overtime win over Wisconsin.
Bufkin has averaged 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 33 games this season.
Howard, who did not play against Toledo, has contributed 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29 games this season. Barnes has chipped in 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 15 games.
–Field Level Media
