Inside Michigan's post-Purdue team meeting that could be turning point: 'That's not the Tre Donaldson that you'll see going forward'

Michigan Wolverines basketball junior point guard Tre Donaldson, an Auburn transfer, was confident heading into last Friday’s game at Purdue. Before heading to West Lafayette, he talked publicly about having played at Rupp Arena, home of Kentucky, and not being intimidated about what he’d face against the Boilermakers. Purdue has a great team, though, and Mackey Arena is different. Donaldson and the Wolverines got a taste of it in a humbling 91-64 loss.

Donaldson turned the ball over on Michigan’s first two possessions, and the Boilermakers went up 4-0 in the first minute. Purdue’s lead swelled to double digits within the first four minutes of a game that was literally never competitive.

Michigan’s point guard played his worst game of the season, finishing with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist with a whopping 6 turnovers.

The Wolverines had a quick turnaround, bound for a Monday night tilt against Penn State back in Ann Arbor, and didn’t waste any time getting back in the film room and on practice floor. For two days, they worked on being strong with the ball and more physical on both ends of the court.

Donaldson wasn’t the only one that struggled, but his poor performance was the most impactful given the position he plays, and he felt the need to stand up in front of his Michigan teammates and take accountability. His words and actions in the days following the loss may be a turning point for the Maize and Blue.

“The film session after the Purdue game, he came in and was accountable to the entire team,” Michigan assistant coach Drew Williamson said. “‘Guys, I’ll be better. That’s not the Tre Donaldson that you’ll see going forward.’

“Any time someone comes in and they have the humility to be accountable for what … it wasn’t a great game … he has a chance. By him stepping up and owning it in the locker room in front of his teammates, it was for sure a chance for him to be able to come out and do what he did.”

Donaldson had an extra film session with Michigan head coach Dusty May, as well, and he showed back up on the practice court as determined as ever.

“A lot of guys really respected that, and he showed it in practice the two days before Penn State,” redshirt junior forward Will Tschetter said. “Obviously, his play against Penn State showed it.

“He’s as locked in as I’ve ever seen him this year thus far, and it’s only going to continue,” Michigan graduate guard Nimari Burnett added.

Michigan survived against Penn State, 76-72, in a strange game that featured a sick graduate center Vladislav Goldin and quite a few missed bunnies. But the Wolverines showed progress, and Donaldson led the way with 21 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 4 steals with no turnovers, while playing against the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in PSU point guard Ace Baldwin Jr.

“His approach with not only coming to practice and putting us going in the right direction, but also on the floor,” Burnett said. “Defensively, he was very active, and you guys saw that against Penn State — I think racked up 3 or 4 steals. Just very active on the ball, really disrupting ball handling and being in the gaps.

“The things that we all learned from Purdue, but mostly him, carried him to having a big-time game against Penn State.”

“He played one of his best games of the season,” Tschetter noted. “So for him to be able to have that accountability … hopefully, we just continue where we don’t have to have those games where we have to have a bounce back. It’s just gradual steps forward.”

Donaldson said “not just talking about it, but being about it,” was on his mind in the final timeout huddle before he scored or assisted on Michigan’s final nine points after being down five with less than two minutes to go against the Nittany Lions. He was pleased with the way he and his teammates finished that game in response to what happened at Mackey.

“It was all about response,” Donaldson said.

Williamson believes the loss at Purdue — and the lessons learned — could help propel Michigan in the long run.

“When your point guard, leader talking to your team like that, it gives everybody else confidence,” the assistant said. “And then to be able to back it up with the performance he had, it also gives us confidence.”