Michigan basketball forward Jon Horford will be on the bench with his teammates Thursday in Bloomington, Ind.

He just won't be in uniform.

Michigan coach John Beilein said Wednesday that the sophomore big man is likely to miss his sixth straight game with a foot injury when the 16th-ranked Wolverines travel to No. 12 Indiana (9 p.m., ESPN2).

"We're going to do a regular exam on Monday," Beilein said. "I think we'll know where he is.

"But he is going with us (to Indiana). It's important he be there for support and so he gets used to that atmosphere for the future."

Horford hasn't played since Michigan beat Oakland at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Dec. 10 while saddled with a stress fracture in his foot.

Beilein has yet to rule out the possibility that the 6-foot-10, 250-pounder could be done for the season, saying he'll know more following Monday's examination.

Should Horford sit out the rest of the year, he'd still be eligible for a medical hardship waiver because he will have played in less than 30 percent of Michigan's games.

In nine games this season, Horford has averaged 2.7 points and 3.6 rebounds as a primary post backup.

Michigan's trip to Indiana on Thursday will be the team's first true road contest since a 70-58 loss at Virginia on Nov. 29.

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

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