Just like that, the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is coming to a close. With that comes the National Championship Game on Monday, seeing the UConn Huskies take on the Michigan Wolverines.
Neither team is operating at peak capacity on the health front, however. For Michigan, F Yaxel Lendeborg is dealing with some discomfort. What’s his status ahead of an 8:50 p.m. ET tip-off in the biggest game of his career to date?
Let’s dive into the latest Yaxel Lendeborg injury update, also weaving in how it could impact PrizePicks player projections for tonight’s UConn vs. Michigan game.
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Yaxel Lendeborg Injury Update vs. UConn in NCAA Tournament
In the Wolverines’ 91-73 win over Arizona in the National Semifinals on Saturday, Lendeborg hurt his left knee and ankle during a driving sequence late in the first half. He wound up playing just 14 minutes in the matchup, going 3-for-4 from the floor and scoring 11 points.
Fortunately for Michigan, it appears that the star forward avoided serious injury. It’s being described as a sprained MCL and ankle for Lendeborg, yet he said he “absolutely” intends to play on Monday and is off the team’s availability report.
Wolverines trainer Chris Williams says it’s a minor knee ailment with a bone bruise, also categorizing the ankle sprain as low-grade. Head coach Dusty May says tests on the knee and ankle came back clean.
Lendeborg may be hampered against UConn, but all signs point to him giving it a go in the National Championship.
Yaxel Lendeborg & Michigan Outlook vs. UConn in National Championship
It’s been one heck of a season for Lendeborg. The 23-year-old is averaging 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists through 39 games. A First-Team All-American, the New Jersey native has delivered some big-time performances for Michigan down the stretch.
Prior to the Arizona game, Lendeborg was justifying his recent 2026 NBA Draft buzz as a potential late-lottery pick. In three NCAA Tournament outings beforehand, he averaged 25.0 PPG on a scorching 61.4% shooting on field goals and 52.6% from 3-point land.
Lendeborg leads Michigan in scoring and is one of four players on the roster averaging 10.0 PPG or more. The other three members of the team are F Morez Johnson Jr. (13.1), C Aday Mara (12.2), and PG Elliot Cadeau (10.3).
According to Bart Torvik, Lendeborg is second among all qualified Division I players in BPM (15.5) while also owning an impressive 138.7 offensive rating that slots him in at seventh. The Wolverines may need another heroic effort on Monday to take down a pesky UConn program that won’t go away quietly.
Yaxel Lendeborg Projections, Picks vs. UConn
Here are some top Yaxel Lendeborg projections vs. UConn tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 13 Points
- 6 Rebounds
- 1.5 Assists (Goblin)
- 24.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 27.5 Fantasy Score
- And More
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Make UConn vs. Michigan National Championship Picks on PrizePicks
With Yaxel Lendeborg being given the green light to play in the National Championship Game, that adds another set of projections hoops fans can consider on Monday night.
You can make your hoops picks on PrizePicks, earning real-money rewards if you’re right. Just pick at least two players and predict More or Less on their projected stats.
With PrizePicks Team Picks, make predictions on game winners, spreads, over/unders, and more — now available in 35 states!
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