UPDATE: In a major shocker, Yaxel Lendeborg has returned to the game vs. Arizona, battling through the pain to help his team come out on top. Tracy Wolfson has reported Lendeborg is dealing with an MCL sprain and ankle injury.
There are no words to describe how unlucky this is.
In the first half of Michigan's Final Four showdown with Arizona, a game the Big Ten side is totally dominating, the one and only Yaxel Lendeborg landed awkwardly on an Arizona player's shoe, he twisted his ankle and was clearly in a ton of pain.
Yaxel Lendeborg suffers major injury scare in the Final Four vs. Arizona
Lendeborg went back to the locker room, getting checked for both an ankle and knee injury. He came back to the bench for about a minute, but then he quickly returned. Lendeborg was spotted with a brace on his left knee, walking incredibly gingerly. As you'll be able to see in the video below, No. 23 did not look well at all. Not only that, but the broadcast team revealed Lendeborg is dealing with the same ankle injury he suffered in the Big Ten title game. Yeah, this is not good:
Yaxel Lendeborg heads back to the locker room with 4:35 to play in the first half pic.twitter.com/tZJdogOEFx
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 5, 2026
Yaxel Lendeborg injury update has trouble written all over it for Michigan
As of this writing, Michigan is well on its way to the national title game, with UConn up next. However, nothing is locked up there just yet. However, with that title contest coming on Monday night, Michigan fans indeed must be incredibly worried that Lendeborg won't be ready to go in time.
That would be the worst-case scenario and it would surely change a lot of the game plan for Dan Hurley and the Huskies. Time and time again this season, Lendeborg has looked like one of the best players in the country and he's a major reason the Wolverines have had so much success.
Without him on the hardwood on Monday night, should Michigan advance, it would complicate things for Dusty May and his staff. As Elliot Cadeau mentioned in his halftime interview with Tracy Wolfson, Michigan has a next man up mentality and they'll be ready to rock with or without Lendeborg in action.
While that's a great mindset for the Wolverines, Lendeborg is the straw that stirs the drink for this group and with all he's been through, everyone wants to see him healthy and ready to make a splash in helping Michigan win it all. This is such an unfortunate injury and it looks like one that he's not going to be able to just walk off.