Courtney Sims has watched the musical chairs of injuries safely from his position at center. The 6-foot-11 sophomore has not succumbed to the plague of injuries that has finally worked its way through the rest of Michigan’s low-post players.

Sophomore Brent Petway — who injured his shoulder in Michigan’s last game against Fairfield — warmed up before gametime but did not feel healthy enough to go at tip, forcing senior J.C. Mathis to make his first start of the season. With junior forward Chris Hunter missing his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury, Sims suddenly had to shoulder most of the offensive production down low for the Wolverines.

Sims also had to perform against Northwestern’s Mike Thompson, a 6-foot-10 junior transfer from Duke who, coming into today’s game, was averaging 12.5 points per game over his first eight games.

Considering Michigan’s depleted frontcourt, it was probably the most difficult post matchup that Sims has faced all season.

“I just felt I had to play within the system,” Sims said. “That’s how I want to play all the time, even when Chris and Brent aren’t in the game.”

Sims shot 5-for-7 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free throw line for 17 points. He also added five rebounds and three blocks.

On the other end of the court, Thompson managed just 12 points on 4-for-13 shooting, due in part to Sims’s defense.

“(Thompson) is a very good player when he catches it inside,” Mathis said. “So we tried to play him before he caught the ball by fronting and getting on top of him.”

Sims’s play was overshadowed by the 24 and 17 points from junior Daniel Horton and sophomore Dion Harris, respectively, but his night was productive nonetheless.

Without Petway and Hunter, Sims’s performance was that much more pivotal. Petway — who leads the team in blocks with 18 — has been Michigan’s most intimidating defensive player. Hunter has been an offensive force since earning a spot in the starting lineup in early December, averaging 11.2 points per game.

Junior Graham Brown and Mathis — the two other forwards that saw playing time — combined for just four points and five rebounds. Brown played in his first game after hernia surgery kept him out for eight games, while Mathis logged a season high in minutes (20). Both contributed their share on the floor, but Sims was left to fill up the stat sheet for the big men.

“Courtney’s done a great job this year, especially from the free throw line,” Brown said. “You can see him growing down in the low post, getting stronger in the low post, but he’s done a great job shooting from the free throw line.”

Surprisingly enough, Sims did most of his stat-sheet stuffing at the charity stripe. Sims — a 71 percent shooter on the season — has not missed a free throw in four games. He has drained 16 of his last 16 attempts.

“When I look at his line, I’m very impressed with it,” Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. “I’m mostly impressed, to be very honest, with Courtney being 7-for-7 from the foul line.”

Thankfully for Sims, this may be the last game he has to work essentially solo from the low block. Brown is getting healthier, and Hunter and Petway may be back for Saturday’s game at Penn State.

“I think he has really responded in a positive way and elevated his game at a time when we really needed it,” Amaker said.