Michigan's second loss of the season could not have come at a worse time for the Wolverines, as the regular season is quickly coming to a close, and it doesn't get any easier from here on out. In a defensive battle, Duke was able to edge out Michigan 68-63, and it felt like the Wolverines never had an answer for Duke star Cameron Boozer.
The Wolverines were able to get Boozer into foul trouble when he picked up his fourth foul with just under nine minutes left int he second half. However, even with Boozer off the court, Michigan couldn't build a lead, and by the time he came back on, he took the game over yet again.
Michigan has a lot to look at from this game, and a lot to learn from, as not only did they struggle offensively, but also on the board, and something must be figured out quickly. After the loss to Duke, here are three takeaways from the game that must be addressed.
Yaxel Lendeborg proves why he is the leader for the Michigan Wolverines
In a game where it felt like scoring was impossible at times for the Wolverines, Michigan was able to lean on transfer Yaxel Lendeborg. Dusty May could not have recruited a bigger player out of the transfer portal than Lendeborg, and it showed against Duke.
With a game-high 21 points, it felt like anytime the ball was in Lendeborg's hands, there was a better chance of Michigan winning the game. With just under five minutes left in the second half, Lendeborg hit a major three-pointer to bring the game within one, but that was as close as it ever got for the Wolverines for the rest of the game.
Lendeborg ended with 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, showing he is the true star of this Michigan team.
Michigan's problems under the basket are bigger than anyone thought
The Wolverines struggled heavily on the boards against Duke, being out-rebounded 41 to 28. Duke was a highlight reel on the offensive boards with 13, while Michigan was only able to muster 8 offensive boards.
At times, Michigan had to play with its smaller lineup due to Aday Mora's early foul trouble. The smaller lineup makes it a lot harder for Michigan to compete for rebounds against bigger and more physical teams.
Elliot Cadeau could not have been colder from the floor
After a huge game against Purdue where Elliot Cadeau led the team in scoring, he could not have been colder from the floor for the Wolverines against Duke. Cadeau ended the night with just eight points, but he at least had six assists to go on his stat line.
Cadeau dealt with an arm injury in the first half, where he came off the court in serious pain and was held out of the game for several minutes. Cadeau did re-enter the game, but there is no telling if that affected his play the rest of the night.