Michigan’s Dusty May didn’t expect Tre Donaldson to play in L.A. Then he set career-highs

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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.

Tre Donaldson of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half of the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

“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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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigans-dusty-may-didnt-expect-111104669.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-01-09 11:11:00

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