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Report: John Beilein optimistic Derrick Walton Jr. will return this season for Michigan

Derrick Walton Jr.

Derrick Walton Jr. (AP Photo)

AP

Myles Mack,  Derrick Walton Jr.

Rutgers guard Myles Mack (4) dribbles against Michigan guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, in Piscataway, N.J. Michigan won 54-50. Walton had 12 points for Michigan. Mack had 15 points for Rutgers. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP

Michigan has been dealing with significant injury losses this season and sophomore point guard Derrick Walton Jr. has been out of the lineup for the last three games while dealing with a foot injury.

The 6-foot-0 Walton missed a game in late November with a toe injury and played on it for a few months before his foot became too painful to play on. Michigan head coach John Beilein also didn’t make Walton’s injury sound very good when he said Walton would be out for the “forseeable future” last week.

But good news came on Saturday as Walton doesn’t have a broken foot and just needs to rest, rehab and recover.

Beilein told the Detroit Free Press’ Mark Snyder on Saturday that he’s hopeful the guard will play again this season.

“That’s the hope,” Beilein said to Snyder. “When he’s in that boot and I believe when he can walk pain-free again, then we’ll start looking at (a return.) We’re doing therapy in the pool, we’re different things with him. But we’re very hopefully that he can return as some point this year.”

Walton is averaging 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3 assists per game in his sophomore season and the Wolverines could use his leadership and overall floor game with its inexperienced roster.

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