Nice mlive piece on Donnal
Check it out:
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2016/02/column_1.html?utm_med…
Didn't recall he'd been reclassified to a junior. But still have him for another two years if things work out.
I've been feeling pretty down about the team's prospects lately, because while I was convinced they would be better next year I wasn't sure that better would be good enough. Between Chatman and Donnal, I felt much better after yesterday.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^
I agree that Donnal has shown some serious improvement to the point that I'm excited to see how he does next year. But while Chatman looked pretty good yesterday, 8 minutes is hardly enough time to make me feel any better about his long term prospects. I think that ship may have already sailed...
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
For a big in a premier NCAA MBB program, Donnal's defense is not currently good enough.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^
in the B1G in defensive rebounding, too. D is far from good enough, but make sure you're not looking at it through the eyes of the mob.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
I'm very pro-Beilein and get annoyed by the mob mentality. Five blocks is a great tally. But I really need to see Donnal work on some fundamentals (particularly boxing out, help defense). He's not currently good enough, but I think he will be.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^
enough!
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^
at home on our last possession and subsequent 1 of 2 from the line forced the Terps to take a three-pointer for their last shot, which they missed, giving Michigan the win.
Donnal is clearly our best option at the five right now. Maybe Mo Wagner can put on some off-season muscle and work to change that, but right now, Donnal is the best.
And I had written Donnal off as a bust prior to his surge this year.
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
His D isn't any worse than anyone else on the team (at the 5) and he can actually catch the ball on offense so he's way above some of the others.
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:58 PM ^
This is true and makes me sad.
February 22nd, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
How good every player's D is?
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
If Chatman can improve consistency, he's a bigger body and would give M the opportunity to rotate Irvin/Robinson/Chatman between the 3/4 spots (Irvin could easily slide to the 3 with Chatman on the court). Dawkins may wind up the odd man out - Chatman's the better passer, may be the better ball-handler overall, and if he can get comfortable with defense and turn the corner on confidence with shooting, he could eat up the minutes backing up both 3 & 4.
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
Chatman is a way better handler. He was a PG for most of his HS career. Dawkins can barely dribble.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:34 PM ^
in points per minute (excluding the injured Caris).
Dawkins has a lot to clean up/improve upon, but his ceiling is way higher IMO.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^
I agree with you there. I always thought his strengths were areas that are lacking overall on this team, so I do think he has a spot. My point was that I just doint see a 25% 3-pt shooting Chatman playing a lot at the 3. He apparently has shown the ability in practice and obviously had some good makes yesterday, so I do think the potential is there, I just think he needs to be given more back-up minutes.
I loved seeing him get those few minutes in the first half, but Beilein for whatever reason didn't give him any minutes in the second half despite his good play. It's hard for guys to improve with comfortability on the court when they can't get game minutes.
February 22nd, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
Next year, I could even see Irvin playing the 2 (or some 2) and really open up playing time for Chatman, if he is up to it.
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:00 PM ^
I'm amused by your acknowledgement of Donnal's dramatic improvement in year 3... only to be immediately followed by tossing a Sophomore (and more highly regarded prospect) in the trash.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:34 PM ^
we've seen them both on the court for 2 years now. chatman had his minutes stripped away from him while donnal's have steadily increased.
February 22nd, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^
freshman and was way over his head. He hasn't had much game time this year to show what he can do. In any case, he is a sophmore big. Give him some time to develope. Not every player can walk in and play at a high level right away.
February 22nd, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
I would argue Donnal looked equally overwhelmed when throw in as a redshirt freshman.
As for giving him time to develop, Chatman is just about at the halfway point of his career and there has been very little to provide promise for the future.
February 22nd, 2016 at 5:47 PM ^
Illinois is one thing--but Maryland had a 27 game home winning streak just stopped by Wisconsin................give him credit he didn't shrink away at any time and when he came out of the lineup................well, you know the rest.
February 22nd, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^
said they had noticed in practice that the offense flowed better with Kam in. Guy is in no way out of the running. We have ruled all these guys so far in and so far out by now that we ought to be wise to ourselves.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:33 PM ^
I did not think that Donnal was capable of playing D1 basketball in a power conference. His growth has been very pleasant to watch. I'm still troubled that he doesn't seem to have the nasty streak that an inside player needs to be a force...throw the damn thing down instead of shooting a bunny!
Chatman has done nothing to change my mind. Still completely clueless on the defensive end of the floor and often guards air or the wrong player.