Michigan basketball: Tre Donaldson living up to name, number in March Madness
DENVER — Perhaps it's the name. Perhaps it's the number. Perhaps it's the time of year.
Whatever the reason, Tre Donaldson — No. 3, his first name shared, at least verbally, with Michigan basketball's 2013 March hero, Trey Burke — once again officially added his name to maize-and-blue postseason lore.
Fifth-seeded U-M had led 12-seed UC San Diego for nearly the first 37 minutes of Thursday's NCAA tournament first-round matchup.
But with 2:29 remaining, and a spot in the second round of the South region on the line, UCSD's Tyler McGhie drilled a fadeaway over U-M 7-footer Danny Wolf to give the Tritons a two-point lead.
The lead lasted only 16 seconds.
On the other end, Donaldson caught a swing pass from Rubin Jones on the center-court logo, took a step to his right around a Vlad Goldin screen, pulled up from beyond 25 feet and canned a go-ahead 3-pointer.
The Wolverines never trailed again, beating the Tritons, 68-65, to advance to the second round against 4-seed Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon (5:15, CBS) at Ball Arena.
“This is me, this is Tre,” Donaldson said. “It’s who I am. My teammates, their trust in my ability to make shots, it’s great. My confidence, this is the best basketball I’ve played in a while … but these guys around me, instilling confidence in me.
“For me to know I mean that much to them, it’s amazing.”
Bringing the juice
Donaldson was slumping, not long ago, with a stretch beginning in mid-February in which he averaged less than seven points a game.
But the Big Ten tournament saw a revival, and Thursday's game continued it, as Donaldson had 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists — all second among Wolverines against the Tritons.
Beyond the final box score, of course, has been the timing of his plays. Donaldson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in last Saturday's Big Ten semifinal vs. Maryland, then took the ball coast-to-coast for a game-winning layup in the final 6 seconds.
The next day against Wisconsin, Donaldson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:54 to play as the Wolverines never trailed again in their Big Ten tourney championship.
Thursday in Denver, it was more of the same: a go-ahead 3 in the final minutes.
“The last two minutes of the game,” teammate Rubin Jones said, “it’s just a different Tre.”
U-M's final made field goal was far from Donaldson’s only big shot. He hit a floater early, as part of a 10-0 opening run then drilled a 3 to stretch U-M;s lead to 12 with less then eight minutes before the half. Another sneaky big shot: Putting a halt in UCSD’s 12-0 second-half run with a 3 from the right wing with 16½ minutes left.
The game’s going to throw so many things at you, but do you respond,” Donaldson said. “Then, how is your response going to lead to winning.”
Built for the moment
Michigan head coach Dusty May was all smiles after the game, understandably so.
His team, again, weathered a game it certainly could have lost. The Wolverines led by 15 early in the second half, and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, the Big West Player of the Year, fouled out with 6:57 left.
Even with that, the Big Ten champion U-M found itself trailing the Big West champ UCSD with less than three minutes to go..
And yet, the Wolverines again found a way to get it done. Michigan is now 13-4 in games decided by four points or fewer this year — and 11-0 in its past 11 such contests.
It takes more than just Donaldson to do that.
“I’ve always taken pride in these games look so different,” May said. “You’ve got to take what the game gives you. And also, I think our group really believes in each other. We’re going to get the stop, we don’t know how but we’re going to figure out a way to make it work.
“Maybe we’ve spoken it into existence, but deep down I think because of the work they’ve put in, the adversity we’ve faced, and most importantly doing this 17 times.”
Certainly, Michigan needed its contributions up and down the lineup. Vlad Goldin had 14 points and seven rebounds, Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 11, Wolf just missed a double-double (nine points and 11 boards) and Jones and Will Tschetter each hit key 3s in the second half.
But, for three games in a row, Donaldson has saved the day. The self-described “gamer” — a label May said postgame is applicable — was the talk of the postgame availability, especially when May was asked if Donaldson was simply born for these kind of moments.
The coach paused, then did what he often does: credited the hours behind the scenes.
“I don’t know if he’s built for it, but he’s certainly put in the work to deserve success in these moments,” May said. “The shots he makes are the shots we see him working on his game religiously and consistently since he got here.
“I’m not a big believer in built for it. … I’d like to give it to his intelligence and work ethic.”
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: Tre Donaldson magic again for Michigan basketball in NCAA tournament
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