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 31st, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
Changing how he is listed was an indication that he shouldn't expect to come back for his fifth year. Beilein left open that possibility at the time though and games like this make it likely that he will.
December 30th, 2015 at 10:46 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 6:00 PM ^
I'm not going to lie, I could watch that "get that weak shit out of here" block and staredown by Donnal for hours. He looked like a different player out there, and I, for one, welcome our new aggressive dominating Mark Donnal overlord.
December 30th, 2015 at 11:59 PM ^
It makes all the difference.
Whole mile, only.
December 30th, 2015 at 6:08 PM ^
PICK AND ROLL ACTION AGAIN woohoo
December 30th, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 11:25 PM ^
you already made this statement
December 30th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^
give it to him every damn time. And maybe to the rest of the team as well.
December 30th, 2015 at 8:59 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 6:31 PM ^
absolutely incredible. Its nice to take that in for a little while, but only for a little while. That was definitely an important road win and at least it will be nice to possibly go into Purdue with a 2-0 conference record (knock on wood).
Don't get too excited though. There is a reason we're all going crazy about it, it's because it only happened once and against a particularly crappy team, especially at center. I'm not taking anything away from Donnal, he was unbelieveable. There are others things I'm worried about. Our bigs are where they are going to be except for some random good games (like today) and they won't get too much better this season. If they prove me wrong then fantastic.
The main thing that is unsettling about this team is the fact that Walton, Duncan, and Irvin were 9/25 and only had five assists between the three of them. I don't blame Duncan, he is in the line-up to shoot 10 threes a game and nothing else but this still blows my mind. Walton just completely disappears in games he shouldn't. Any team we play who is mediocre or bad, he should be posting at least 15 points and 5 assists in every single one of those games no questions asked. Hes a third year starter in a system he knows. His skill level is high, he just needs to play like it. Irvin's stats need to be better also. He is still not at 100% but please score more than 9 a game.
If our bigs can just post 10pts, 8boards a game combined, you can't ask for much more than that at this point. Our points come from the other four on the floor and every one of them needs to be able to drive. Irvin's and Walton's ability to create their own shots is pretty lacking. Levert is Levert, top 15 draft pick, there is nothing but good things to say about him. I still see this team saving themselves by out-shooting other teams. 12-6 seems like the upper possibility in the conference and 9-9 the lower. Always believe in Beilein.
December 30th, 2015 at 6:39 PM ^
I thought Irvin was fine. He had a few shots that were in and out and he's quite good running the pick n roll offense.
December 30th, 2015 at 7:09 PM ^
improving. But "fine" doesn't cut it in the Big Ten, especially when he is supposed to be the team's second-leading scorer. He can't drive, last year he could and he hasn't gotten it back, hopefully he will. I'm usually the one defending him but at this point he should be posting more than 10 points a game at every contest and pulling in 5 rebounds.
December 31st, 2015 at 12:28 AM ^
You know he's coming off back surgery, right? A bad back will really screw with the coordination of a jump shot, not to mention the ability to go in and bang for rebounds. He's probably not going to be completely right all season.
December 30th, 2015 at 8:18 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 30th, 2015 at 10:19 PM ^
First off, if 8 points, 2 assists is a "solid game" from our leading scorer from last year then you should readjust what solid means. Second, I wasn't only talking about this game. Obviously every player has their bad nights but Irvin has a bad night every other game at this point. If we're going to compete in the Big Ten, Irvin can't be so sporadic. Yes maybe he played some good defense but that's a first so don't rely on that for anything. If he has an off night shooting then he needs to contribute in other areas, like assists, defense, and rebound. He did one of three of those tonight.
I think the team played great overall, which is why I singled out players. We will get to the tournament this year but if we want to have a shot at anything, Irvin and Walton need to be more consistent playmakers. I have faith in them.
December 30th, 2015 at 11:14 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^
was only the leading scorer last year because LeVert and Walton were out for the bulk of the year. He is not supposed to be the first option.
8 points and 2 assits and good defense, with a couple three balls rimming out, from a guy who was "just a shooter" not all that long ago and is still trying to find his shot after back surgery, is a solid game
December 30th, 2015 at 9:27 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 6:35 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 30th, 2015 at 6:54 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 30th, 2015 at 6:40 PM ^
and frankly don't believe the recap. Someone want to tell me what really happened?
December 30th, 2015 at 7:00 PM ^
Donnal has always had skill and talent but need to play aggressive and with confidence. It was obvious he was lacking confidence but apparently he has been playing very well in practice which is the reason Beilein has stuck with him in the rotation. He is very effective when he is active in the paint, cutting to open spots so our guards can deliver the ball to him in spots where he can score. He also has pretty good hands and a nice touch around the basket. If he continues to improve he will be a very valuable asset to this team moving forward.
December 30th, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 30th, 2015 at 7:26 PM ^
That was insane - congratulations on a fantastic game, Mark! GO BLUE!!!
December 30th, 2015 at 9:14 PM ^
I was starting to think I was the only Wolverine who lived in IA????
December 30th, 2015 at 8:10 PM ^
December 30th, 2015 at 8:25 PM ^
Donnal was far more active than I've seen him in most past games. Not just on the offensive end either. He was making plays on the defensive end. Hopefully, Ricky Doyle was watching carefully and learned something. We're going to need at least 2 bigs playing at a solid level to have a good B10 campaign.
December 30th, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^
I guess white boy basketball is ok.
December 30th, 2015 at 9:30 PM ^
checked: is not april fools.
checked: correct URL at top of site
checked: date is current, matches expected team UM is playing.
result: must be true. DONNAL is a baller, shot-caller.
December 30th, 2015 at 10:06 PM ^
Spike Albrecht is actually a warg and he took over Donnal's body Bran Stark style. Curiously, after the game, Donnal could be heard muttering, "Hodor, Hodor, Hodor..."
Of course, it could be that I was influenced by watching 5 seasons of Game of Thrones in 5 days, but I think my theory is more likely than Donnal's switch suddenly getting turned on by mere mortal ways.
December 31st, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 12:36 AM ^
or is it Nick Sheridan against Minnesota in 2008?
December 31st, 2015 at 12:39 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 1:50 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 8:07 AM ^
and no mention yet of PITTSNOGGLE???
December 31st, 2015 at 8:52 AM ^
First of all, I would like to apologize for comments I previously made on this site and other sites regarding Donnal. I really did not think he could play Division I basketball. Even after his first couple of baskets, I chalked it up to luck. But when he continued to go crazy I realized this is what the coaches have been seeing in practice. Wow. Hats off to Donnal.
Second of all, early in the game it looked like Duncan Robinson was going to pull a Nik Stauskas and deliver a goose egg in Big Ten play, so I'm glad he was able to at least get a few baskets.
Third of all, I'd like to thank mgoblog and all the other Michigan Wolverine websites and podcasts for offering me a couple of hours per day to escape from the absolute craziness that resides in Columbus, Ohio. It is not easy living in Columbus as a Michigan fan. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year.
Go Blue!!!
December 31st, 2015 at 9:41 AM ^
Donnal clearly has skill, but seems to have lacked playing with a chip on his shoulder until yesterday. I've wondered why we havent seen a body transformation with him. He's been in the program 3 full years and doesnt seem to have improved his body like many of the other players. 3 years in, he should have put 20 lbs of muscle on his frame....that extra power and explosiveness could have really paid dividends. I wonder if Beilein wanted him to stay with his current body type or if its a lack of effort in the weight room?
December 31st, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^
Great game Mark!
I remember reading a few years ago how everyone in practice was saying this kid is
going to be a stud one day, maybe now it's all coming together for him.
Keep playing hard and take advantage of your opponents as the game slows down
for you. The sky's the limit!
December 31st, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^
That was a lot of fun watching Donnal finally put it together, was very happy for him.
Comments