Nik Stauskas injury: Michigan freshman questionable for season-opener

The No. 5 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team takes on Division-II Slippery Rock on Friday night at 8:30 p.m., but Michigan head coach John Beilein said Nik Stauskas is questionable for the contest due to a back injury. Stauskas could help stretch the floor for the Wolverines this season -- he shot 6-for-11 from three point range during the exhibition portion of the schedule -- but Beilein didn't sound too optimistic that the young wing would be ready for the opener (via MLive.com):

"Stauskas has a little bit of a back problem, so he's questionable for this game," Beilein said. "He's come up with a little bit of a sore back, we'll see what he can do. He did not (practice Wednesday), so we'll see.

"He woke up wrong, or whatever, he's got a little bit of a spasm going on."

Last season the Wolverines finished 24-10 and became co-Big Ten Champions. Nick Baumgerdner of MLive.com noted that the 2011-12 Big Ten championship banner will be raised on Nov. 27 before the game against No. 6 North Carolina State.

After the game on Friday against Slippery Rock, Michigan will take on IUPUI on Nov. 12 in the NIT Season Tip-Off and then the winner of the game between Cleveland State and Bowling Green on the next night.