EAST LANSING — At times, it was hard to find him on the court.

Manny Harris, Michigan’s star guard and leading scorer, was a non-factor in the Wolverines’ loss to Michigan State on Sunday.

Harris scored just four points, which is not only a season low, but it also tied a career low for the junior. The last time Harris put up just four points was against Wisconsin in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, the last game of his freshman season.

On Sunday, Harris shot 1-for-10, without any excuses for the low output — like foul trouble or not playing many minutes (he played 33). He simply struggled to create open shots, and each time he took one, it looked forced.

Michigan coach John Beilein said that Harris’s low output could be attributed in large part to the Spartan defensive game plan.

“They play a great individual defense,” Beilein said. “They key on him … and make it difficult for him to get anywhere.”

Beilein also talked about particular moments during recent games when Harris wasn’t making the smartest plays. Many times, these were the situations when the Wolverines needed their star to step up.

“There were some times they go under a ball screen, he's got to shoot the ball,” Beilein said. "He still has (trouble) recognizing that sometimes, or when he gets into the lane, he's got to get a little 15-foot jump shot where he rises up and shoots.

“He doesn't do that enough. He's still a guy that likes to take it to the hole or dish. The in-between game is something he's got to spend the whole summer on.”

Beilein talks tournaments: During Monday’s Big Ten basketball teleconference, Beilein was asked about Michigan’s postseason outlook. It wasn’t about the NCAA Tournament, a topic that was brought up often in the early part of the season. Instead, he spoke candidly of the second-tier and third-tier tournaments, the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), respectively.

Beilein said Monday that Michigan has applied for the NIT, though it doesn't seem likely the team will end up playing in the tournament.

"I don't think we'll be eligible; the Division II game does not count," he said, referring to Michigan's season-opening win over Northern Michigan. "I think you have to have a winning record, and if I'm doing the math correctly, I don't think we can get there."

The Wolverines would need to win the Big Ten Tournament to end the season with a record above .500 — which would actually give them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

In the past, the NIT only invited teams that finished at least .500 in the regular season, but it abolished that rule in 2006. Since then, however, no team with a record under .500 has played in the NIT.

The next step down the ladder, the CBI, is a 16-team tournament that is hosted at on-campus sites. In order to play, teams must pay a fee. Last year, Oregon State won the tournament, beating UTEP in a best-of-three final.

“We do not have an interest in the CBI this particular year,” Beilein said.

Injury update: Michigan fans already looking toward the promise of the future might be a bit alarmed after Sunday’s game. Two Wolverines who are currently redshirting showed up to the game in a sling and a boot, both having been injured in practice this past week. Neither is a protypical big man, but both are expected to help Michigan’s roster size increase next year.

Redshirt freshman forward Jordan Morgan, who is listed at 6-foot-8, wore a sling on his left arm.

“He hurt his shoulder fairly significantly in practice (Friday),” Beilein said after Sunday’s game. “I don’t know what the plan is, but there’s a very good chance of an operation.”

And 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman forward Blake McLimans wore a boot on his left foot on Sunday.

“Blake McLimans sprained his ankle badly in practice (Saturday),” Beilein said. “I don’t think he’ll be available this week as well.”

Note: Senior forward DeShawn Sims was named to the all-Big Ten second team, and Harris was named to the all-Big Ten third team Monday night.