Michigan Basketball: Why Mark Donnal, Ricky Doyle Are Potential Breakout Stars

They're each roughly 6'9" and 240 pounds. One has an inside game, one has an outside game—and both should be steady contributors to Michigan in 2014-15. 

But don't ask Wolverines coach John Beilein to pigeonhole either one right now, as redshirt freshman Mark Donnal and true freshman Ricky Doyle have more to offer than what meets the eye:

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I need to watch both of them more, but at the end of the preseason here, when we get into November, one will probably have the upper hand on the other, but I can't make that call yet. We may get situational sometimes, but I wouldn't discount Mark's inside game or Ricky's outside game.

The perception would be that one is one thing and the other is the other thing, but I think both have the ability to play the other's game, and that's what we're working on, so they can be really versatile.

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True enough. It's early (really early), so pegging them into definite roles would be a bit premature. However, there's no harm in a little projection, as each stands to give Michigan a leg up on the rest of the Big Ten. 

One's going to have range while the other will live in the paint. Or is that the other way around?

This is a "problem" that any coach would like to have. Once Doyle and Donnal figure out their purpose, Beilein, a professional developer, should have one of best young forward tandems in the Big Ten. 

Fresh Frontcourt

This year's frontcourt is one of Beilein's youngest since arriving at Michigan. That's not a bad thing; he knows how to bring out the best in his athletes. They may not take the Big Ten by storm this season, but the combination of Donnal and Doyle should evolve into something special. 

Michigan's team trip to Italy yielded great results. Caris LeVert regained health, nearing 100 percent recovery from surgery on his right foot, while Derrick Walton and Zak Irvin also made strides in the right direction. 

But those guys are guards. Well, LeVert can play forward, but let's keep it simple...

What about the true power forwards/centers? Mitch McGary is gone. So is Jordan Morgan, whose experience and knowledge will be difficult to replace.

As mentioned, the frontcourt is young. But Beilein isn't complaining about that. Instead, he enjoys watching it grow. 

"Both Ricky and Mark have had interesting games," Beilein said, per Jake Lourim of The Michigan Daily, UM's student media source. "One time, Ricky didn't get a rebound (in Italy) and then Mark all of a sudden had a double-double. Both of them are making really good progress. We'd like to see more, but I like what I've seen."

Bacari Alexander, Beilein's top assistant, recently discussed the potential of a Doyle/Donnal frontcourt during an interview with Sam Webb on WTKA 1050 (via Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press).

Doyle is "thunder," and Donnal is "lightning," he says.

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There's early signs of the potential of all three of our bigs, if you talk about Max Bielfeldt, as well, who's coming back from a hip procedure. Being able to knock down 15-to-17-foot jumpers. Where that becomes important on the court is when teams are trying to use their defensive big to sag off and disrupt cutting action and things of that nature.

If you can develop those guys to a level where they keep defenses honest with the ability to do that, which all three of the players have shown early on, it give us a different dimension. It gives us an opportunity to explore some different things.

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Lots of coach talk. That's what they do. Everything is technical, tactical and precise (foggy). Allow for a loose translation: These two can ball, and Michigan can't wait to see what they can do.

There. That sounds better, doesn't it? 

The Scoop on Doyle

A few months ago, Doyle seemed all but destined for a redshirt. He was too raw. At the time, a year of learning from the bench and not on the court seemed like a smart move—and according to Matt Herting, who coached Doyle at Ft. Myers Bishop Verot, that probably wouldn't have mattered. 

"His thinking was, he committed to play basketball at Michigan, so he's going to do everything he can to play basketball at Michigan," Herting, who saw "50-50" odds of Doyle redshirting, told MLive's Brendan F. Quinn in June. "If coming up early is going to give him the best chance to play, then he might as well. I think it was a no-brainer for he and his family."

According to 247Sports, Doyle was the No. 50-ranked power forward and No. 203-ranked overall prospect of 2014.

The Deal on Donnal

Donnal was the No. 18-ranked power forward and No. 86-ranked overall prospect of 2013. He ended up wearing red for his first year of college.

So he's a higher-ranked guy who ended up taking a seat on the bench? But this year, a lower-ranked guy is primed for immediate action? And they're interchangeable and play in similar fashions? 

Yes.

But personnel played a factor for Donnal, who, unlike Doyle, joined a team with established forwards. Now that he has a year of experience on his resume, he's ready for action. In a sense, that was the best thing for him, as the Wolverines did fine without him. 

That was Beilein's developmental touch at work. With Doyle and Donnal ready to pounce, Beilein's in line to compete for a Big Ten title and extended run through March. 

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Opening quote from John Beilein was obtained via press release from the Michigan athletic department.