Michigan 78, Illinois 68
Mark Donnal is taking over this game. He's set a new career-high in points: https://t.co/ksZh94arXe
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) December 30, 2015
I...
WHAT IS MARK DONNAL?
— Chris Gaerig (@cgaerig) December 30, 2015
...well...
There are few words to describe Mark Donnal right now.
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) December 30, 2015
...um...
"You need to take that, Donnal" ~ a thing I said in real life.
— Bryan Mac (@Bry_Mac) December 30, 2015
...so. If you missed this game, you may have a hard time believing this recap, so I want to preface this by saying I triple-checked for typos and splashed cold water on my face: Mark Donnal led Michigan to a road conference win by scoring 26 points on 11/15 FG with nine rebounds (six offense), three blocks, and two steals.
Yes, really.
While Illinois is not a good team up front, Donnal looked like a player transformed. He ran the high screen beautifully, finished strong at the hoop, stepped out to drill a triple, pulled down rebounds with authority, protected the rim, and did it all with more confidence than he's ever shown in a Michigan uniform. Perhaps it's an anomaly. Perhaps it's a turning point. For today, if nothing else, it was a whole lot of fun to watch.
In a more expected development, Caris LeVert also had one of his more impressive games, beating Illini defenders off the dribble all afternoon on his way to 22 points (9/16 FG) and ten assists, several of them to Donnal at the rim.
No other Wolverine made more than three shots from the field; Derrick Walton scored nine, Duncan Robinson and Zak Irvin had eight apiece. Michigan pulled away in the second half by riding the LeVert/Donnal two-man game until Illinois showed they could stop it; the Illini never did. After a hot start to the game from beyond the arc the Illini couldn't keep pace, and Zak Irvin did yeoman's work on the defensive end guarding Malcolm Hill, who needed 13 shot equivalents to score 11 points, seven below his season average.
In a most unpredictable fashion, Michigan opened Big Ten play with a road win. Penn State comes to town on Saturday, giving Donnal a golden opportunity to show today wasn't a fluke. If it was, the reality check may come next Thursday, when the team travels to Purdue to face Isaac Haas and AJ Hammons.
Until the time comes, though, I'll work on finding words to describe... that.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:23 PM ^
He's obviously not going to put up 26/9/3 every game, but if Donnal can play decent-to-well in conference play the outlook on what can be accomplished this season changes significantly.
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December 30th, 2015 at 6:12 PM ^
How about 10/5/1!!! I'd take that any day with only one bobble/missed layup.
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December 30th, 2015 at 7:15 PM ^
6/3/1 and we would be in great shape.
December 30th, 2015 at 7:37 PM ^
Donnal is a perfect example of why I detest people naming names when anticipating attrition. A few people speculated on his future status on various sites earlier this season when it wasn't going great for him. I hope he doesn't give a fuck what fans think, but if he does, I hope he enjoys shoving a game like this up their asses.
Yes: I feel that strongly about it...
December 30th, 2015 at 11:19 PM ^
Fair enough, it's one game though. Observed evidence says this is more likely a fluke than some weird mental switch being hit and he's all of a sudden a confident, effective good player from here on out. Let's see how he does when Big 10 coaches gameplan for him before crowning him. Guessing Groce didn't spend too much time stressing over how to stop Donnall before this game.
December 31st, 2015 at 1:26 AM ^
This is his second year playing. It's not unthinkable that he could have turned a corner, especially given Beilein's track record of player improvement. At the very least, this should be a huge confidence boost for him.
But anyway, if opposing coaches actually have to start gameplanning to stop him, that would be big for our offense. Just a token threat down there, to lead to more doubling the post and cause defenders to think twice about leaving him to rotate to the perimeter, could mean more open looks for other guys.
December 31st, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
Well, as effective as he was, I don't think many people are going to be double-teaming him in the post any time soon. Most of him points came from dump offs and rebounds. But just to have another credible player at the 5 spot would be great.
December 31st, 2015 at 7:39 AM ^
against Bucknell, where he scored more points than he had the entire season before. Everyone was hoping that he had finally broken out, but he really hadn't. He didn't hit double digits again for a long time. Until and unless we see this a few more times from Donnal, the odds are that this is just a glitch and not him really emerging as a player.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^
Hope you loved that feeling, Donnal! You can have it every night you put on that uniform!
December 30th, 2015 at 5:27 PM ^
I'm still not sure what I just watched. I had Donnal relegated to third on my depth chart (at best).
December 30th, 2015 at 5:27 PM ^
Great team win, but also Donnal- indescribable! Ace- you wrote that this was a non-conference win? I thought this was an official B1G opener.
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December 30th, 2015 at 5:32 PM ^
I caught that too. Unless something crazy happened recently, I'm pretty sure Illinois is still in the B1G.
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December 30th, 2015 at 5:51 PM ^
For now, at least
December 30th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
He shoulda quadruple checked for typos
December 30th, 2015 at 5:30 PM ^
It's good that Donnal had a confidence-building game like that. I do wonder if he can find a way to be effective against teams that are big & physical up front, though.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:50 PM ^
Maybe he's found his outside shot and can lure the likes of haas and Hammonds away from the rim and open it up.
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December 30th, 2015 at 6:12 PM ^
Max Bielfeldt evolved from unplayable 6'6 C to (multi-program!) legitimate B1G player.
Jon Horford evolved from a skinny scrub to one of the best defensive rebounders in the country.
Sometimes development takes a few years.
Matching up with Kentucky-caliber bigs up front probably ain't happening but if we can just get competancy out of the 5 spot that's a major improvement.
December 30th, 2015 at 6:50 PM ^
had 18 points and 14 rebounds in a B1G road win today. I still don't understand how we didn't have room for him this year.
December 30th, 2015 at 9:39 PM ^
After today, it's possible to see what Beilein might have seen in Donnal when he let Bielfeldt walk. Maybe to give him room to grow and take the job. But with an available scholly I don't fully understand it either.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^
I think they let him go because there was a legitamite shot at Jaylen Brown. It was a courtesy to Max to not string him along until he gets left out if Brown had decided to come to UM and there was no more room for Max at one of his top choices.
I also think there were a couple other 2016 guys they were giving a look at that time.
And with 3/4 bigs on the roster this year, and Doyle playing pretty well last year, it probably didn't seem a necessity.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:32 PM ^
Further proof our leader needs to have an assistant who evaluates talent for him. Doyle is awful.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:43 PM ^
Hey hey we won
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December 30th, 2015 at 5:47 PM ^
I'll take Beilein's talent evaluation over yours, thanks.
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December 30th, 2015 at 6:14 PM ^
is proof Beilein can't evaluate talent? Interesting...
December 30th, 2015 at 6:25 PM ^
sorry guys, i meant our leader of mgoblog. he talked on the podcast about how great Doyle was going to be, which was waay off. kind of like his love for Morgan who's average at best.
i wasn't intending this to be a shot at Beilein.
December 30th, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
Morgan ended up being a very important piece of an Big Ten Title-winning Elite 8 team. And Doyle hasn't even finished his SO year yet. Chill out.
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December 30th, 2015 at 11:51 PM ^
desmond morgan, not jordan morgan. i mentioned it was from what Brian talks about on the podcast. when is the last time you think jordan morgan was mentioned on the podcast? if you have no clue then quit with your snarky bullshit and grow up. it was just a comment, good lord. i think YOU need to chill out. why are you so easily offended?
December 31st, 2015 at 12:35 AM ^
You had to clarify your confusing comments not once but twice, so you're the last person who should get their knickers in a twist when others are left to figure out just who in the hell you're talking about.
December 30th, 2015 at 6:40 PM ^
I think Brian would admit he's more of a hockey and football guy, which is why he has Ace leading the bball beat.
It was a head-scratcher when Brian and Ace dismissed Doyle's horrible rebounding rate as a non-issue. Still, he remains the #1 candidate for playing time against legit front courts. Donnal's game will get him minutes but we need to see it against better competition to believe it. Wagner had a nice game too. Purdue next week will tell us a lot more.
December 30th, 2015 at 7:37 PM ^
we will learn against Purdue. They have perhaps the best front court in the NCAA. We certainly won't dominate them (nor will anyone else) and will be lucky to compete. Hopefully, we can keep from being dominated.
December 31st, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
I, too, am sick of Brian being wrong about something now and then.
December 30th, 2015 at 6:40 PM ^
You're a fun person.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:37 PM ^
I had to stop rubbing my eyes to read this thread. Still not sure what I just watched. Happy New Year Mark.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
Road win. Any road win is good but they played confident today. Great to see a B1G kickoff game like that. Go blue
December 30th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
What is the proper pronunciation donnal?
DONNle, donAL, donALL something different?
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December 30th, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^
I've heard it donELL.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:46 PM ^
Mystery may never be solved.
https://soundcloud.com/umichathletics/pronunciation-mark-donnal
December 30th, 2015 at 5:52 PM ^
Weird. He said DON-AL followed by dun-AL
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December 30th, 2015 at 5:43 PM ^
when I saw how awful we looked with Doyle in...whoops
December 30th, 2015 at 5:44 PM ^
Recent game with zero points. Oh. But. Not Jake.. Maybe the motivation is no scholarship next year.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:46 PM ^
that Beilein told MD that there is a reason he was offered a scholarship and that he can play at this level. He's hinted at similar things in the past. Then there are player comments when Morgan was a senior. They said he'd be ready.
Maybe, just maybe, a good deal of his previous play was hurt by his lack of confidence or fear. He's looked worse against less than what he saw today.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:48 PM ^
Donnal has talent and a beautiful stroke. I mentioned in the Bryant thread that he was starting to do some of those extra plays (tap out rebounds, finish around the rim).
I have been critical of him, but I am quick to offer him praise when deserves it.
Well done young man.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:49 PM ^
Donnal was every bit fantastic as the superlatives note. Assertive and aggressive.
Someone posted one of the threads that JB had Donnal sandbag through the NC schedule. It almost looks as if that were the case. Almost.
At any rate, a huge bonus.
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December 30th, 2015 at 5:51 PM ^
Mad Dog
Mark of the Beast Mode
MarkDown
M-Don
Does this guy even have a nickname? If not, he needs one, and if he does, he probably needs a new one.
Awesome job, MD, keep it up!
December 30th, 2015 at 5:52 PM ^
Missed the game dealing with a sick child, but WOW....I'm hoping this is a turning point and not a fluke. Sounds like a couple of players are finally hitting their stride and this looks to be the start of good things.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:54 PM ^
During his career, and then come out against our biggest rival and put up those numbers? On the road? Bravo!
December 30th, 2015 at 5:59 PM ^
Great game and I like beating the Illini but "our biggest rival"?
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December 30th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^
the joke- *woosh*
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December 30th, 2015 at 7:25 PM ^
and if he has a redshirt?
December 30th, 2015 at 7:55 PM ^
now he is a junior.
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