Yaxel Lendeborg struggles for Michigan in first half against UConn: 'I feel awful'
Indianapolis — Michigan had Yaxel Lendeborg for the first half of the national championship game against UConn, but it wasn’t the version it’s used to seeing. Lendeborg played all 20 minutes of the first half as Michigan took a 33-29 lead into halftime, but that lead came largely from the hands of his teammates. Lendeborg shot 1-for-5 in the half with no rebounds or assists, but two personal fouls and four points.
More: Michigan enters halftime with slim lead in national championship game: Live updates “I feel awful, I feel super weak right now,” Lendeborg told TNT’s Tracy Wolfson at halftime. “I can’t make anything. Uh man.
I’m trying to push through, obviously, because it’s the championship game and all that, but man, I’m missing plays that I don’t usually miss. I had many opportunities to take advantage of the small defender. I haven’t been able to do it.
“I’m gonna go in at half, do as much as I can to do a lot better and play it more aggressive. ” It was a noticeably tentative first half for Lendeborg, an All-American and the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, with a bit of hesitancy showing in his game after suffering a bone bruise, sprained MCL and ankle injury in the first half of Saturday’s Final Four win over Arizona. Lendeborg, the 23-year-old transfer from Alabama-Birmingham, came into the game averaging 15.
1 points, 6. 9 rebounds and 3. 3 assists per game.