Throughout the season, John Beilein has spent time tinkering with Michigan’s starting lineup and playing rotation.

Sometimes it's out of necessity, when sophomore guard Zack Novak missed the Utah game due to illness or when Beilein suspended Manny Harris against Purdue.

The rest of it, from the fluctuating minutes of the Michigan bench to switching Darius Morris to Stu Douglass in the starting lineup, has been trying and find something that works.

Now, at the end of January, Beilein is there. Kind of. Sort of.

“Somewhat,” Beilein said. “Going into the Connecticut game Anthony (Wright) had not played well. You’re saying ‘He’s a senior, how long do you stick with him’ and then he came out of that. Anything can happen at any time.”

Wright had struggled through most of the season. He didn't even play against Penn State on Jan. 7. Yet since Connecticut, when he played 12 minutes and scored nine points he’s rejoined the rotation.

He started for Harris against Purdue and Michigan State and scored in both games.

While Wright’s minutes have increased, Zack Gibson’s minutes have virtually disappeared to where he played one minute against Michigan State on Tuesday.

Most of that, though, has to do with the re-emergence of senior forward DeShawn Sims.

“Gibson didn’t play very many minutes the other day because all of a sudden, not all of a sudden but through a lot of very hard work DeShawn Sims has become one of the premier players in the country, so where’s Zack going to play then and get very many minutes,” Beilein said. “I don’t expect that to continue, him having one minute or two minutes or however many he played to get DeShawn some rest but in that game, I know DeShawn did not want any rest.”

One person benefitting from the bench is Morris. Since heading to the bench for the Kansas game, he has made better decisions. In only two games - at Penn State and at Purdue - did Morris have more turnovers than assists.

He’s also appeared to be more settled in to college basketball starting the game sitting.

“I started off the first nine games. Maybe if I was in the lineup I would get more used to it,” Morris said. “But now I’m getting used to coming off the bench and what they are doing to our offense, guarding our offense, that’s always an advantage coming off the bench.”

Gatens to play

In an afternoon shootaround Wednesday before Iowa’s game against Ohio State, Hawkeyes guard Matt Gatens sprained his left ankle.

It was bad enough Iowa wasn’t sure he’d be available. Instead, Gatens started, played 38 minutes and scored six points with three assists.

Iowa coach Todd Lickliter expects Gatens to play again Saturday at Michigan (4:35 p.m., Big Ten Network), although not at 100 percent.

“I don’t think he could push off that foot but he was really toughing it out,” Lickliter said. “Everyone associated with the program from fans to staff and players should appreciate someone who never mentions it, doesn’t show any signs of shying away, he just goes out and plays.

“No one can play on an ankle sprained as bad as him without some effect.”

Gatens is averaging 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds this season.

Dunn to return

Michigan associate head coach Jerry Dunn, who left the team for personal reasons on Dec. 29, appears ready to return.

Beilein said Friday he expects Dunn, the former Penn State head coach, to return to the team either Sunday or Monday.

Douglass still working at point guard

Douglass’ sophomore season has been a struggle. He’ll admit that. Beilein said Douglass has been improving, but it has been tough making the transition from shooting guard to point guard.

Yet he’s played better since moving into the starting lineup in mid-December.

“A little slow but looking back, it’s hard for me to expect too much of myself,” Douglass said. “A lot of times I do that, though. So I’ve been a little hard on myself.

“At the same time, I should of played better. It’s a big mix of emotions with should-of’s and would-of’s and forgive yourself for some of the bad things you do in games.”

He particularly beat himself up after Michigan’s 57-56 loss to No. 5 Michigan State on Tuesday, where he had three turnovers and went 2 of 7 from the field.

He also, though, threw a good pass to DeShawn Sims on the final possession that gave the Wolverines a shot to win the game that bounced off the rim.

“His biggest challenge right now is the role of a point guard having never played it before,” Beilein said. “Having never played that has been tough for him at times. He continues to make steps forward. Are they giant steps, no? But there are steps in the right direction.”

This and that

Michigan’s coaching staff will participate in the Coaches Vs. Cancer suits and sneakers awareness weekend against Iowa on Saturday. … Kelvin Grady, who recently rejoined the basketball team, wasn’t on the bench Tuesday and won’t be until Michigan figures out his hour balance between football and basketball. He has switched class times, though, to accommodate the basketball practice schedule. … Lickliter said Friday freshman guard Anthony Tucker, who was suspended indefinitely in December for violating a team rule, will not play Saturday.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.