Yaxel Lendeborg Says He's Playing in the National Championship Monday 'No Matter What' Amid Ankle Injury
Yaxel Lendeborg isn't going anywhere. The Michigan star said postgame, courtside Saturday night that his ankle felt "different" but that nothing would keep him off the floor Monday in the national championship game — "no matter what."
The declaration came after one of the more alarming injury scares in recent Final Four memory. Lendeborg landed on the foot of Arizona's Matiejus Krivas while driving to the lane, his left ankle twisting awkwardly. He tried to walk it off before eventually heading to the locker room, limping with a brace on his knee and not returning for the rest of the first half.
Lendeborg Was Already Dealing With an Ankle Issue and MCL Sprain
Per the TBS broadcast, Lendeborg was dealing with an ankle issue along with an MCL sprain. For most players, that's a season-ending combination. For Lendeborg, it was a halftime inconvenience.
He returned to the court in the second half with a freshly taped ankle and a brace on his left knee — and immediately drained consecutive three-pointers to extend Michigan's lead to 21. He hit the bike on the sidelines to get in some physical therapy reps and by the time the game was over, the Wolverines blew Arizona out 91-73 to advance to Monday's national title game against UConn.
It was the fifth time in five tournament games that Michigan scored at least 90 points. Lendeborg or no Lendeborg, this team is built different. But Lendeborg made clear after the final buzzer that his teammates won't have to find out what it looks like without him.
Michigan faces UConn Monday night at approximately 8:50 PM ET on TBS.