LOS ANGELES − Tre Donaldson’s performances during Michigan basketball’s West Coast-sweep over USC and UCLA seemed amazing as they were happening. Now, they somehow seem even more impressive.
When the junior point guard scored a career-high 20 points as he poured in a career-high six 3-pointers to go with seven assists, five rebounds and just two turnovers to keep the No. 24 Wolverines (12-3, 4-0 Big Ten) unbeaten in the league, he did so at well less than 100% health.
Donaldson explained postgame that he’d sustained an injury in the hours before the Wolverines boarded their flight for the West Coast last week and even had to go in a walking boot for a couple of days.
“Thought I broke it in practice the day we left,” Donaldson said pointing to his left foot. “But no, I’m good, low ankle sprain.”
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound facilitator was doing a non-contact shooting drill when he came down wrong and twisted his left ankle. When U-M left for Los Angeles, the staff thought it may have to either start a true freshman at point guard like L.J. Cason, or shuffle around its backcourt with Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and perhaps even a little of Durral ‘Phat Phat’ Brooks.
“I didn’t expect him to play on this trip,” May said. “He lived with our trainer Chris Williams it seemed like for several days. In the back of my mind I was thinking he probably just needs to hold out, get 100% and be ready when we get back home, but he just kept pushing and pushing and pushing. Played a couple minutes the day before USC to see what he looked like and he looked pretty good.
“We encouraged him to just get in the flow and not do too much. He played well that game and then, obviously tonight, managing the game.”
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It started against the Trojans, when Donaldson set what was at the time a personal record with four 3-pointers as he went 4-for-6 on long balls, scoring 16 points and handing out six assists in U-M’s 85-74 victory at Galen Center.
The former four-star safety recruit then used his football mentality to grind through Tuesday in UCLA, too, where he had a career day in U-M’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 playmaking had as much to do with it as anything. The Auburn transfer is now averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 boards per game while shooting 46.2% from the floor, 43.1% from 3 and 68.3% from the free-throw line.
“Just continue to push and lead,” Donaldson said of his mindset. “Do whatever I have to do to win and make plays.”
Roddy Gayle Jr. out with bruised knee
Though Donaldson was able to play through his injury, Gayle was not after he suffered a bruised knee following the USC contest.
Gayle, who transferred 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% shooting. Gayle hadn’t missed a game through 85 collegiate contests, but was unable to suit up after he played 24 minutes and scored 12 points vs. USC.
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It’s too early to make a determination about his status ahead of Sunday’s game vs. Washington (2 p.m., Big Ten Network).
“Continue with rehab,” May said of the game plan with Gayle. “Obviously the long-term health is going to be a priority for us. You never know (if it really is short term), but I would say he’ll be back relatively soon.”
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball’s Tre Donaldson has career day despite bad ankle
