Michigan coach John Beilein has been searching for the perfect mix in his starting lineup all season.

At the beginning of the year, he had redshirt sophomore Anthony Wright start at forward with junior DeShawn Sims on the bench.

But when Wright started by clanking shots off the rim early in games and Sims proved he was Michigan's best threat in the post, Beilein decided to switch up the lineup.

Now, Sims is one of the Wolverines' most consistent starters — and Wright has played just three minutes in the last six games.

Even with Sims emerging as a solid starter, Beilein continues to juggle the starting five. Michigan (2-1 Big Ten, 12-3 overall) has employed a different combination of starters in each of its last four games.

Ten Wolverines have started this season. Sophomore forward Manny Harris is the only player to be in Michigan's top five every game.

Beilein attributes much of the shuffling to his effort to find other scoring threats to complement Harris and Sims.

"We're still searching to find out who is our 'other guy' out there," Beilein said.

Harris averages 18.7 points per game but has been held in check in Michigan's three Big Ten contests, averaging about five fewer points per game.

"That man has a bullseye on his chest every time he comes out," fifth-year senior C.J. Lee said. "He's getting the best defenders in the conference every night."

In Big Ten play, Harris has often forced shots and is committing an average of four turnovers per game.

But with Harris's lesser impact on the scoreboard, Michigan's role players have stepped up.

"[My shots] haven't been falling," Harris said. "I've continued to work on it and it still isn't falling. ...But teammates like C.J. Lee and everybody else picked it up."

During Michigan's 72-66 win over Indiana Wednesday, Lee and redshirt freshman guard Laval Lucas-Perry were the difference-makers for the Wolverines.

Lee came off the bench and hit two key 3-pointers in the last 10 minutes that helped Michigan overcome a 20-point deficit.

"(His shots) were the changing point to me," Harris said Wednesday night. "We could've laid down. You got to have balls to take that shot, and C.J (Lee) had them tonight."

And Lee isn't the only under-the-radar player stepping up for the Wolverines.

Junior forward Zack Gibson played his best game of the season against Illinois last Sunday by putting up 10 points, including two big momentum-turning dunks.

In Michigan's loss to Wisconsin on Dec. 31, freshman guard Zach Novak was the lone bright spot for the Wolverines, pouring in a career-high 20 points. Novak earned a spot in the starting lineup and then played a team-high 42 minutes against Indiana.

With so many role players stepping up, it has been difficult for Beilein to cement his starting lineup.

And the mixed combinations haven't helped Michigan in conference play — the Wolverines have not led at halftime in any of their Big Ten games.

Against Indiana, Michigan went to the locker room down by 17 at halftime. Beilein encouraged his players to keep their poise and the Wolverines eventually triumphed. For Sunday's game against Iowa (1-2, 11-5), Beilein will need to evaluate all of his past lineup combinations in an attempt to create the perfect starting five.