McGary, whose back condition first came to light in August, missed the first two games of the season because of the issue, then also sat out of the Wolverines' most recent game, a 68-65 win over Stanford last Saturday at the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational. He was averaging only 9.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game—beneath the level of production he posted during the Wolverines’ run to the NCAA Tournament title game.

"We have worked hard rehabbing the injury and I thought that everything was proceeding in the right direction until the last two weeks," McGary said in a team release. "I have consulted with my family, my coaches and our doctors and decided the best option now is to have surgery. This was a difficult decision to make because I want to be out there with my teammates. At the same time, I need to be healthy to give everything I can on the court and help my team."


Without McGary, an already small Wolverines team gets smaller. Expect Michigan to lean more heavily on Jon Horford and Jordan Morgan for minutes in the paint.

Before the Stanford game, Wolverines coach John Beilein revealed during an interview on WTKA-AM in Ann Arbor that a variety of nagging injuries were holding McGary back. Now we know the biggest reason was the thing that was bothering McGary from the outset of the season.

"We want Mitch to be 100 percent healthy again," Beilein said in a team release. "He has worked very hard over the last few months and during his earlier rehab. He was making progress in practice and games; however, lately he began to experience the same pain he had when we held him out of preseason practice this fall. Our first priority is Mitch's overall health even though I am certain he would rather be back on the court right now."


Surgery of any kind is often done as a last resort, which gives some insight into the severity of McGary's condition and would seem to put his status for the remainder of the season in jeopardy.

McGary was a Sporting News first-team preseason All-American.


VAUGHN'S FINAL FIVE


Shooting guard Rashad Vaughn, ranked No. 13 among Sporting News’ Top 25 prospects for 2014, trimmed his list to five schools, with Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and UNLV making the cut.

Before this announcement, Vaughn, the 6-5 shooting guard from Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., had also been considering Arizona, Baylor and Minnesota (his home state).

He’s taken official visits to both Iowa State and UNLV and also has one planned for UNC in February. Given the roster makeup of all five finalists, the Cyclones and Runnin’ Rebels would offer Vaughn, who’s averaging 22.9 points per game this season, the clearest chance at the biggest starring role.

However, one wonders whether Findlay teammate Kelly Oubre Jr., a Kansas commit, could sway Vaughn into coming to Lawrence.

Vaughn is expected to make his decision in the late signing period, which starts April 16 and ends May 21.


MARQUETTE'S WILSON TO REDSHIRT


Marquette freshman point guard Duane Wilson, who suffered a stress fracture in his left leg in October, will redshirt this season, the team announced.

Wilson, ranked No. 68 in 247Sports’ Class of 2013 recruiting rankings, led Dominican (Milwaukee) High to state championships as a junior and senior. He began to return to the practice court only recently on a limited basis.

“After thorough conversations with Duane and his family, we have decided it’s best for his career that he redshirt this year,” Marquette coach Buzz Williams said.


The Golden Eagles, who have been to three straight Sweet 16s entering the 2013-14 season, are just 7-5 after nonconference losses to five programs who figure to be NCAA Tournament teams. Wilson was expected to be Derrick Wilson’s backup and had impressed in offseason workouts, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. 

Marquette opens its league schedule at Creighton on Dec. 31 after a Dec. 28 game vs. Samford.


HINSON TAKING LEAVE OF ABSENCE


Southern Illinois coach Barry Hinson will miss the Salukis' road game against Miami (Ohio) on Sunday following the death of his son-in-law.

Niles Thomason, husband of Hinson's daughter Tiffany, died suddenly while visiting family in Carbondale, Ill., on Wednesday. The Jackson County coroner's office said Friday the 31-year-old Thomason, who lived in Colorado, died of natural causes.

SIU spokesman Tom Weber said Hinson plans to coach the Salukis' home game against Wichita State on Thursday. Associate head coach Tom Hankins will be in charge for the Miami game.

Hinson made headlines last week for his animated news conference in which he called his players "a bunch of mama's boys" after a loss at Murray State. He publicly apologized for singling out a player for criticism in his comments.

Contributors: Roger Kuznia and The Associated Press