The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543845
APRIL 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 ❱ MICHIGAN BASKETBALL Three Best Players 1. Graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg: The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder has continued to state his case as a potential lottery pick and one of the best players in college basketball, including down the stretch. In his final eight regular-season games, he averaged 16 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest, highlighted by a 27-point per- formance in a 90-80 win over Michigan State March 8. In the victory over the Spartans, he hit 5 of his 6 three-pointers, and he's regained his confidence from beyond the arc lately, connecting on 45 percent of his attempts over the last eight outings. 2. Junior center Aday Mara: The 7-foot-3 big man has upped his game in recent weeks — and he was already playing at a high level prior to that. Mara scored in double figures in six of the last eight games, and has shot 70.6 percent on two-point attempts during that span, while registering 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per night. For the season, Mara's 18.7 percent assist rate ranks 29th in the Big Ten and second in the conference among players taller than 6-foot-10, showing the unique talent he is at that size. Defense is where he really shines, though, with the Wolverines' benefiting from his rim-protecting presence. Over the last 10 games, Michigan has a 96.0 defensive rating while he's on the floor, ranking in the 97th percentile nationally, compared to 117.7 when he's not on it (23rd percentile). 3. Sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr.: The 6-foot-9 beast has been his steady, efficient self down the stretch, perhaps taken for granted because Lendeborg's dazzling play and Mara's tremendous size garner a lot of attention. In the final eight games, Johnson recorded 13.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1 assist per contest, while shooting 59.3 percent on twos and going 5-of-11 from beyond the three-point line. His game is developing, and he showed that to his former team, Illinois, by nailing a triple as part of a 19-point, 11-rebound performance in an 84-70 win in Champaign Feb. 27. Key Moment Illinois students camped out overnight to secure seats at State Farm Center Feb. 27, delivering a hostile welcome to the Wolverines, who needed one win to lock up the outright Big Ten title. Las Vegas had Michigan as a 1.5-point favorite, but the Wolverines won by 14, even after two threes from Illinois in the final minute while the game was all but over. It was another dominant display, especially on the defensive end. Illinois has the most efficient offense in the KenPom era (since 1996-97), but the Wolverines held it to just 1.05 points per posses- sion, its second-worst output of the year. Sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr. received "F— you, Morez" chants from the student section in his return to his former school but put up a huge performance in leading the Wolverines to a championship-clinching win. Best Highlight Sweeping Michigan State is always sweet, and the March 8 victory over the Spartans was as good as it gets, celebrating senior day and raising a Big Ten regular-season championship banner after a double-digit victory. The Wolverines hadn't swept the in-state op- ponent since 2017-18 but have taken back the rivalry and shown that they'll be a force to be reckoned with for years to come under head coach Dusty May. Michigan battled foul trouble to junior center Aday Mara and sopho- more forward Morez Johnson Jr. in the first half, but got a 27-point outing from graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg and big-time contribu- tions from a pair of backup guards in senior Roddy Gayle Jr. (15 points) and freshman Trey McKenney (12), along with 18 from Johnson. Bold Prediction Head coach Dusty May told his team after the 90-80 win over MSU that it has "nine more games," meaning the Wolverines plan to win the Big Ten Tournament after receiving a triple-bye and take home the national championship. We'll say here that May is right — Michi- gan will make it to the championship game in Chicago and the final Monday night of the season in the Big Dance. — Clayton Sayfie Superlatives For U-M's Eight Games From Feb. 11 To March 8 Junior center Aday Mara has made his presence felt on both ends of the court, but his defensive prowess (61 blocks in 31 games) is a difference maker. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL