Tre Donaldson magic again for Michigan basketball in NCAA tournament

• Michigan will face Texas A&M in the second Stage of the NCAA Bracket on Saturday.
• Michigan basketball guard Tre Donaldson hit a huge 3-pointer in the Last 3 minutes to Loss UC San Diego in the Primary Stage of the NCAA Bracket.

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 Primary 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-Ranked U-M had Guided 12-seed UC San Diego for nearly the Primary 37 minutes of Thursday’s NCAA Bracket Primary-Stage Game.

But with 2:29 remaining, and a spot in the second Stage 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-Points lead. 

The lead lasted only 16 seconds.

On the other end, Donaldson caught a swing Throw from Rubin Jones on the Hub-court logo, Captured 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 Stage against 4-seed Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon (5:15, CBS) at Ball Coliseum.

“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 Outstanding. 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 Impolite 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 Bracket saw a Reawakening, and Thursday’s game continued it, as Donaldson had 12 points, seven Recoveries and three assists — all second among Wolverines against the Tritons.

Beyond the Last box Points, of Period, has been the Schedule of his plays. Donaldson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in last Saturday’s Big Ten semifinal vs. Maryland, then Captured the ball coast-to-coast for a game-Victorious Attempt in the Last 6 seconds.

The Upcoming day against Wisconsin, Donaldson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:54 to Action as the Wolverines never trailed again in their Big Ten tourney Bracket.

Thursday in Denver, it was more of the same: a go-ahead 3 in the Last minutes.

“The last two minutes of the game,” teammate Rubin Jones said, “it’s Merely a different Tre.”

U-M’s Last Achieved Pitch Target was Extended from Donaldson’s only big Attempt. He hit a floater Prompt, as part of a 10-0 Leading Streak then drilled a 3 to stretch U-M;s lead to 12 with less then eight minutes before the half. Another sneaky big Attempt: Putting a halt in UCSD’s 12-0 second-half Streak 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 Victorious.”

CARLOS MONARREZ: Michigan basketball struggles vs UC San Diego’s 2nd-half adjustments in a nail-biting Secure

Built for the moment

Michigan head Trainer Dusty May was all smiles after the game, understandably so.

His Club, again, weathered a game it Surely could have lost. The Wolverines Guided by 15 Prompt 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 Secured itself trailing the Big West champ UCSD with less than three minutes to go..

And yet, the Wolverines again Secured a way to get it done. Michigan is now 13-4 in Contests decided by four points or fewer this year — and 11-0 in its past 11 such contests.

It takes more than Merely Donaldson to do that.

“I’ve always taken pride in these Contests look so different,” May said. “You’ve Obtained to take what the game gives you. And also, I think our group really believes in All 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.

“Possibly 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.”

Surely, Michigan needed its contributions up and down the lineup. Vlad Goldin had 14 points and seven Recoveries, Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 11, Wolf Merely missed a double-double (nine points and 11 boards) and Jones and Will Tschetter All hit key 3s in the second half.

But, for three Contests 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 Nice of moments.

The Trainer 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 Surely put in the work to deserve Achievement in these moments,” May said. “The shots he makes are the shots we see him working on his game religiously and consistently since he Obtained 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 Unoccupied Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.