Yaxel Lendeborg provides brutally honest assessment of first-half play: ‘I feel awful’
By David Wasson
Published:
Halfway through Monday night’s 2026 NCAA Tournament championship game, Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg looked and played nothing like the superstar he had been throughout the Wolverines’ magical March Madness run.
Lendeborg posted just four points in the game’s first 20 minutes, one game after spraining his left MCL and left ankle in the first half against Arizona in Saturday night’s national semifinals. Despite Lendeborg’s poor effort, Michigan still led UConn 33-29 at intermission.
“I feel awful, I feel super weak right now. I can’t make anything,” Lendeborg admitted to sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson at halftime. “Ah man, I’m trying to push through obviously because championship game and all that, but man. I’m missing plays I don’t usually miss, I’ve had many opportunities to take advantage of smaller defenders, haven’t been able to do it.”
Lendeborg entered the game averaging 15.1 points per game for the Wolverines, who dropped an average of 94.4 points per game during the first five games of this year’s March Madness. He finished the first half just 1-for-5 from the floor (missing both of his 3-point attempts) with two free throws. Lendeborg also committed two fouls, but did play the full 20 minutes while wearing a wrap on his left knee.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
