INDIANAPOLIS – Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to “give it a go” in the national championship game after he was injured in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4.
Coach Dusty May provided an update to his player on Sunday, April 5, after Lendeborg suffered a sprained MCL of his left knee and an injured ankle, per CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson. Lendeborg had an MRI earlier in the day and all imaging came back clean and he’ll be receiving treatment.
“I’m sure he’ll give it a go tomorrow, but that’d be entirely up to him and the medical staff,” May said.
While concerning, Michigan was able to continue without its star as it dominated Arizona in the semifinal to punch its ticket to the national championship game. After the win, Lendeborg told reporters he is “playing Monday night regardless” against Connecticut, going for the Wolverines’ second national championship, and first since 1989.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) scores against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts with teammates against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Yaxel Lendeborg #23 and Trey McKenney #1 of the Michigan Wolverines react while playing against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots the ball against Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines looks on against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts while playing against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines defends Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots a three pointer against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts while playing against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) in action against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau (3) in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) shoots over Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Michigan Wolverines guard Trey McKenney (1) in action against Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Michigan Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau (3) shoots over Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) shoots against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) goes to the basket against Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Michigan Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau (3) shoots against Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau (3) in the first half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Arizona vs Michigan, Final Four championship stakes. See photos
A general view as Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats and Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines jump for the ball during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana
What happened to Yaxel Lendeborg?
Lendeborg got hurt with just under nine minutes left in the first half of the semifinal game, appearing to have twisted his ankle after stepping on the foot of Wildcats forward Motiejus Krivas while going to the basket for a layup.
He left the game and headed to the locker room, not returning for the remainder of the first half despite coming back to the bench. Lendeborg went through warm-ups out of halftime and despite walking gingerly, he started the second half and played roughly nine minutes, knocking down two 3-pointers in the second half.
The Wolverines had a commanding lead over Arizona, up by at least 20 points for nearly all of the second half. There was questions why May let a clearly injured Lendeborg play, and the Michigan coach said it had to with not wanting a late comeback from the No. 1 seeded Wildcats.
“You’re playing Arizona, one of the best teams — statistically, the number one or two team all year in the country and you’re up 20 with 10 minutes left, with eight and a half minutes left. We didn’t feel quite as confident as you guys did that we could just put the kids to bed. And he came in and Elliot [Cadeau] was in foul trouble, and so he just held it down,” May said after the game.
Michigan will play UConn on Monday, April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:50 p.m. ET.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yaxel Lendeborg injury: Michigan star updates status for championship game
