Yaxel Lendeborg’s initial and only visit to the Final Four got off to a terrible start with two fouls in the first 90 seconds, and it only got worse after a lengthy period on the bench in the first half. The Big Ten Player of the Year drove the lane, was fouled, and tripped over the outside of Arizona center Motiejus Krivas’s foot with 8:51 left in the half and the Wolverines ahead 26-14. After hitting both free throws, Lendeborg returned to the Michigan locker room with a twisted ankle.
Prior to taking a seat at the free throw line, Lendeborg walked the length of the court, slapped the floor, and rolled his ankle, visibly in discomfort. Tracy Wolfson of CBS stated, however, soon after he was taken out of the game that he was going to the locker room to get ice and have his ankle retaped before rejoining the game.
Yaxel Lendeborg Update on injuries:
With 8:51 left in the first half of Michigan’s Final Four game against Arizona, Lendeborg twisted his ankle. After hitting two free throws for ice and a new tape job, he was compelled to go back to the locker room, but he is anticipated to return.
Latest update: Lendeborg is back for the second half of the game.
With a pair on his left knee, Lendeborg resumed play in the second half. In addition to an ankle injury, he is said to have an MCL sprain in his knee.
UPDATE: Lendeborg is also being assessed for a potential knee ailment.
Not long after Lendeborg was brought to the locker room, Wolfson expanded on her report, informing play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle that Michigan is assessing Lendeborg’s ankle as well as her knee.
In only five minutes of playing time, Lendeborg had one rebound, one steal, and five points before leaving the game. Following Lendeborg’s injury, Arizona made a 7-0 run to get back into the match.
Coming into the Final Four, the 23-year-old senior transfer from UAB has averaged 15. 2 points, 7. 0 rebounds, 3. 3 assists, and more than one steal and block per game throughout Michigan’s 38 games this season. He was chosen for the First Team All-American squad.
UPDATE: Lendeborg was returned to the locker room.
The Wolverines were ahead 30–23 when Lendeborg reentered the Michigan bench with 6:06 left in the first half. But he didn’t sign in for the game; instead, he returned to the locker room right away. At Lucas Oil Stadium, he was seen tiptoeing along the tunnel. According to Wolfson, it is the same ankle that he hurt during the Big Ten Tournament, and Michigan will reevaluate him to determine whether he can play in the second half.
