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Michigan forward Mitch McGary to miss opener

Michigan forward Mitch McGary made the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team last season. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Michigan forward Mitch McGary made the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team last season. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Michigan sophomore power forward Mitch McGary will miss the Wolverines' season opener on Friday, according to coach John Beilein.

USA Todayreports that when Beilein was asked on Thursday morning on WTKA-AM if McGary would recover from a lower back condition in time to play against UMass-Lowell, the coach said, "No, he won't."

From USA Today:

"He's improving every day, making great improvements in everything he can do," Beilein said.

Just what he can do remains unclear. Beilein and McGary haven't provided many specifics about what the player is doing, only briefly mentioning that he's working with an underwater treadmill, shooting free throws and catching passes with two hands.

McGary, a preseason Associated Press All-America, missed the Wolverines' preseason games with the injury.

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He averaged 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season as a freshman. He proved his value as the Wolverines' sixth man averaging 14.3 points and 10.8 rebounds in the six tournament games during Michigan's run to the national title game.

McGary was considered a probable first-round pick in the NBA draft before deciding to return to Michigan this season.