It is that time of year when it seems like everyone you know is sick, getting sick, or getting over being sick. The Michigan Wolverines are experiencing some of that right now, and it even kept a couple of players out against Penn State.
Wolverines senior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. was expected to play against the Nittany Lions, but according to head coach Dusty May, was only planned to be used in an emergency capacity. May addressed the situation in his postgame press conference, shedding a little more light on the situation.
"Roddy's been battling a little bit of the illness bug that's been going around," May said. "We thought he was playing, but then to be honest we were like 'unless we really, really need you, we're gonna hold you and get you healthy for the Ohio State game.'"
Gayle is probably looking forward to that game, as he was once a Buckeye on the other side of this rivalry. When the Wolverines hosted Ohio State earlier in the season, Gayle had five points, four rebounds, and a block in what was one of his better games this season.
With two games in the span of three days, it makes sense for May and his coaching staff to play it safe with Gayle and Winters Grady, who was also suffering from an illness as well as a lower leg injury.
Michigan will need to be at full strength for final month of the regular season
Hopefully, Michigan is getting through the illness in the locker room quickly, as the Wolverines will need to be at full strength before they hit what will probably be their toughest final month in the regular season in a long time.
Michigan will face three unranked opponents in its next few games, with Ohio State, Northwestern, and UCLA up before it faces some tougher competition. After those games, the Wolverines travel to No. 12 Purdue and welcome No. 4 Duke before taking on a Minnesota team that just took down Michigan State.
To finish the season, Michigan will travel to No. 5 Illinois, which is also hitting its stride at the right time, head to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes, and then finish the regular season against rival No. 10 Michigan State.