Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg suffered an injury scare during Saturday’s Final Four clash against Arizona. While the Wolverines advanced to the national championship game with a dominant 91-73 win, all eyes were on Lendeborg to see if he’ll be available for tonight’s game. Here’s the latest on the Michigan star’s status for tonight’s game vs. UConn.
Yaxel Lendeborg Will Play in Michigan-UConn
Lendeborg suffered his injury after landing on an opponent’s foot in the first half and later admitted that he cried in the team’s medical tent. But after being examined by the team’s trainer, he returned to the game and played a total of 14 minutes.
It was later revealed that Lendeborg was suffering from a left MCL sprain and a left ankle sprain. Despite the injury, the 23-year-old is expected to suit up tonight. May recently revealed that Lendeborg’s tests “came back clean,” and he’s all set to play on Monday.
“I started crying,” Lendeborg said after the game. “I tried to hold it back as long as I could because of how much work I put into to get to this stage, and I was super happy to be here. I definitely was worried for the rest of the season and these two games. I asked God to help me. I had a little moment to myself to get a prayer in, but I feel good. I feel like he’s here. He’s gonna help me, and I’ll be good for Monday.”
Going into the national championship game, Lendeborg is averaging 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals, while shooting 52.3% from the field.
The big question is how effective Lendeborg will be. According to Tracy Wolfson, “I was told Yaxel Lendeborg went through practice. Did everything this morning, will get more treatment when he arrives, will get taped up and go through warm-ups and the expectations is he will not be limited tonight but certainly will be monitored throughout the game.” This is terrific news for Michigan given Lendeborg’s importance to the team.
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The Huskies have held opponents to just 65.1 points per game this season and will look to halt the Wolverines’ fast-paced offense on Monday.
The national championship game between Michigan and UConn will take place on Monday (April 6), with tip-off at 8:50 p.m. ET.
The game will be broadcast live on TBS, TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.
2026 NCAA Men’s National Championship Game Preview: UConn vs. Michigan
What to Expect From the UConn Huskies
What the Huskies are trying to do is nothing short of historic. Winning three national titles in four years will put them in rarified air and cement Dan Hurley as one of the greatest coaches in modern basketball history.
The most-recent obstacle in their path was a No. 3-seeded Illinois team that had been one of the most consistent squads in the entire tournament. But a balanced attack from the Huskies proved too much for the Fighting Illini.
UConn was once again led by Tarris Reed Jr., who finished the game with 17 points and 11 boards. Braylon Mullins chipped in 15, including another critical 3-pointer after his exploits helped UConn pull off a miraculous comeback win against Duke in the Elite Eight.
Strong inside play and a tough defensive effort helped guide them to the national championship game, as they held the Illini to 62 points on the night. Now, they will attempt to win their seventh national title in program history.
It would also mark the third championship win for Hurley, who would become the only active Division I men’s basketball head coach with more than two titles to his name.
How the Michigan Wolverines Reached the Title Game
With two No. 1 seeds colliding, it would have been fair for fans to assume that they were tuning in for a classic in the Final Four clash between Michigan and Arizona. Instead, what they got was a one-sided beatdown from the Wolverines.
Taking an early lead, they dominated their way to a 91-73 victory over the Wildcats and it never felt particularly close. The Wolverines have an extremely balanced offensive attack, and they are the first team in NCAA Tournament history to eclipse 90 points five times.
A double-digit lead less than six minutes into the game sold the story of the Final Four clash, as Arizona couldn’t get anything going on offense. Eventually, the Wolverines were able to slam the door shut.
Now, they walk into the national championship game trying to prevent history as they face another battle-tested group in UConn.
