LOS ANGELES − Tre Donaldson’s performance during Michigan basketball The West Coast sweep over USC and UCLA looked incredible at the time they were happening. Now they look even more impressive.
When the junior point guard scored a career-high 20 points while making a career-high six 3-pointers to go along with seven assists, five rebounds and just two turnovers to keep the No. 24 Wolverines (12- 3, 4- 0 Big Ten) undefeated in the championship, he did it with much less than 100% health.
Donaldson explained after the game that he was injured in the hours before the Wolverines boarded their flight to the West Coast last week and even had to wear walking boots for a few days.
“I thought I broke it in practice the day we left,” Donaldson said, pointing to his left foot. “But no, I’m fine, sprained ankle.”
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard was performing a non-contact shooting drill when he fell and twisted his left ankle. When UM left for Los Angeles, the staff thought they might either need to sign a true freshman at point guard like LJ Cason or move into their backcourt with Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and maybe even be a bit of Durral ‘Phat Phat’. Brooks.
“I didn’t expect him to play on this trip,” May said. “He lived with our trainer Chris Williams for several days. Deep down I thought he probably just needed to hold on, be 100% and be ready when we got home, but he just kept pushing and pushing and pushing I played a few minutes the day before USC to see what he was like and he looked pretty good.
“We encouraged him to go with the flow and not overdo it. He played well that game and obviously tonight he managed the game.”
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It started against the Trojans, when Donaldson set what was at the time a career high with four 3-pointers while going 4 of 6 on long balls, scoring 16 points and dishing out six assists in UM’s 85-74 victory at Galen. Center.
The former four-star safety recruit then used his football mentality to fight Tuesday at UCLA as well, where he had a career day in UM’s 94-75 win over Mick Cronin’s Bruins.
The 94 points marked the most allowed by a Cronin-coached team at home and Donaldson’s play had a lot to do with it. The Auburn transfer is now averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 43.1 percent from 3 and 68.3 percent. from the free throw line.
“Just keep pushing and leading,” Donaldson said of his mindset. “Do whatever I need to do to win and succeed in games.”
Roddy Gayle Jr. injured knee
Although Donaldson was able to play through his injury, Gayle was not after suffering a bruised knee after the USC game.
Gayle, a transfer from Ohio State, is one of five players averaging double figures, currently averaging 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game on 50.2 percent of shots. Gayle had not missed a game in 85 collegiate games, but was unable to dress after playing 24 minutes and scoring 12 points against USC.
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It is too early to determine his status before Sunday’s game against Washington (2 p.m., Big Ten Network).
“Continue the rehab,” May said of the game plan with Gayle. “Obviously, long-term health is going to be a priority for us. You never know (if it’s really short-term), but I would say he’ll be back relatively soon.”
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on @RealTonyGarcia.
This article was originally published on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball’s Tre Donaldson has career day despite bad ankle
