Redshirt sophomore forward Mark Donnal enjoyed his best game of the season on Tuesday against Northern Kentucky. Today, he acknowledged he has some extra motivation to play well.

Donnal scored 11 points, with a pair of rebounds and an assist in Michigan’s 77-62 win. He began the season as a starter, but is back coming off the bench and hoping to earn a fifth year down the road with the Wolverines.

That’s never guaranteed for any player, and Donnal disclosed he’s on a track where that’s in doubt, like it was for Max Bielfeldt a year ago. Bielfeldt wound up transferring to Indiana for his final season of basketball.

“Basically, it’s the same thing Max Bielfeldt had to do,” Donnal explained. “[Beilein] told me last summer that basically, I’m going to have to earn my fifth year. It gives me a little motivation to bring it a little extra this year and show that I’m worth the fifth year.

“Max went through the same process … it was pretty much the same talk that he received, that I got.”

Donnal insists he’s fully focused on this season and doing well. He likes how he’s been practicing lately, and the 14 minutes against Northern Kentucky came as both a reward and a confidence builder.

“It felt pretty good, personally,” he said. “I’ve had a few good weeks of practice, and I just really haven’t shown that in the games as of late. Having a game like that felt good, to show my teammates and the coaches I can play like that during games as well.”

Beilein noted a greater level of consistency is imperative for the third-year Wolverine.

“He’s been through this before, because he was a starter last year at times, and then was relegated to the bench,” Beilein said. “Some days in practice, he really, on the scout team, is excellent. Some days, he’s a non-factor.

“He’s trying to figure that out, and we’re trying to figure that out with him. We’re trying to encourage him and give him opportunities, like we did on Tuesday.”

Donnal noted he looks to control what he can in practice.

“Basically my role is still the same,” he said. “I just go out there and bring energy, do what I can do, the best I can. In practice, I’m trying to build confidence. Having a good stretch in practice really helped me out.

“Sometimes there are days you just don’t have it. That’s my job, to try and stay as consistent as possible. These last few weeks, I’ve been doing a good job of staying consistent.”

Beilein noted Donnal’s marching orders are fairly comprehensive, going forward.

“He’s got to be more aggressive, and he has to have a higher motor, do more things,” Beilein said. “He has to continue to work at understanding our system, basketball, the whole deal.”