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Michigan's senior guard Caris LeVert cheers during the Wolverines' home loss to Indiana at Crisler Center on Feb. 2.

(Junfu Han | The Ann Arbor News)

ANN ARBOR -- The ball is in Caris LeVert's proverbial court.

According to Michigan coach John Beilein, LeVert has been cleared to play and is the sole decider in when or if he will return to the floor for the Wolverines.

The senior star, an All-American candidate prior to injury his lower left leg in late December, is pain-free and still gradually returning to form.

"This is his call," Beilein said Tuesday. "This isn't my call. We'll see what he feels like after today's practice -- how much he can go."

As previously reported, LeVert practiced for one hour on Monday and responded well to the workout, reaffirming as much in a meeting with Beilein earlier Tuesday.

"He just pushes himself a little more each day and now we're up to an hour," Beilein said.

Having missed Michigan's last 10 games, LeVert watched the Wolverines get off to a 7-2 in Big Ten play, but then stumble in two recent blowouts against Indiana and Michigan State.

Now Michigan will face Minnesota, a winless Big Ten team (0-11) with a 6-17 overall mark, on Wednesday night in Minneapolis (9 p.m., TV: BTN).

LeVert hasn't played since a Dec. 30 win at Illinois, when he appeared to step on an opponent's foot and roll his foot/ankle. At the time, the 6-foot-7 guard was Michigan's leader in most major statistical categories averaging 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 14 games.

Beilein said LeVert made a key shot during a drill on Tuesday and is still rounding into form after six weeks on the mend. At same time, according to Beilein, LeVert has yet to go full-tilt up-and-down the floor for an extended stretch in practice. In that area, he's still limited.

As for the dynamic of when LeVert is ready to play and how the team should prepare for his possible return, Beilein called it a "puzzle."

"We'll go into practice today and we'll have some actions for him defensively and offensively that he's got to learn," Beilein said. "But like I said, you just don't know what it's going to be like. This is extremely important that he plays when he's ready to play and that he's not risking any further injury."

LeVert has a history of left leg problems. He underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot following his sophomore year. As a junior, he fractured the same foot and missed the final 14 games of the season.

Despite the latest injury, LeVert is still projected as a first-round pick in the spring's NBA draft. A key component of his decision to play or sit has to rest on balancing the future and the present.

When it comes to LeVert's psyche, Beilein said: "I try to guide him, but it's his call. There's a time when you've either got to jump in the water or your don't jump in the water. You've just got to go. Can you swim or can you not swim? You've got to figure out whether you can do it and not look back. I want him to feel really comfortable about it."

Beilein noted that, when it comes to divulging the specifics of LeVert's lower left leg injury, it's a privacy issue and LeVert's prerogative to share any information.

Asked if there's been any lingering frustration as a coach dealing with LeVert's sensitive status, Beilein responded emphatically: "No, no, absolutely not."

"If anything, I'm saying don't do it until you're ready," he added. "The frustration with me is that I've never gone through this. You start with Mitch (McGary's) injury and you go all the way back. It's been three years now that we've had really good players that are missing from our lineup for the year or almost a year. That's what's frustrating."

Michigan will fly to Minneapolis on Tuesday night following practice and go through a full walkthrough on Wednesday afternoon at Williams Arena. LeVert will be a part of that workout and his status should be decided after that.



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