The Michigan Wolverines are heading to their first national championship game since 2018 after dismantling the Arizona Wildcats 91-73 in the Final Four.
They will take on the UConn Huskies on Monday, April 6, in Indianapolis, in a bid to capture their first national championship since 1989.
But the talk after the game was about the injury status of Yaxel Lendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year.
After the game on Saturday (April 4), Lendeborg, when asked if he was expected to go on Monday, April 6, gave Local 4 some insight about his status.
“Yeah, man, absolutely,” Lendeborg said. “If I wake up tomorrow and I fall as soon as I wake up, that’s the only way I’m not playing. But I will be on that floor on Monday.”
What happened
With under 10 minutes to play in the half, Lendeborg drove to the basket and twisted his ankle and knee, leaving him rything in pain.
He got up and tried to walk it off, but took a knee at halfcourt before tying his Air Jordan 13 Carmelo Anthony player exclusives, heading to the line and drilling both free throws before walking to the locker room.
Lendeborg struggled early in the half, picking up two fouls with 18:38 to play before suffering the injury.
He scored five points in the half and returned to the bench momentarily, but he returned to the locker room with a trainer.
Lendeborg entered the game in Willis Reed style, grabbing two rebounds and draining two three-pointers to help Michigan advance to the title game on Monday.
Lendeborg said, at worst, it was going to be an MCL sprain or an LCL-type issue he suffered on the play.
He said he will get an MRI after giving a postgame soundbite to the media.
“I just said, ‘Thank you, Lord,’” said Lendeborg. “I asked him to guide me and to help me through this situation, and he was there for me. So just a quick little praise. I usually would celebrate a little wild, but just a quick praise to him for allowing me to be on the floor tonight.”