INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg says he “absolutely” plans to play in the national title game against UConn on Monday night.
Lendeborg sprained his left MCL and left ankle in the first half against Arizona on Saturday night. He played just 14 minutes, spending much of the first half getting treated in the locker room.
Coach Dusty May said Sunday that the decision to play will ultimately be up to Lendeborg and the Michigan medical staff, which has indicated confidence that he will be available.
“I’m sure he’ll give it a go tomorrow,” May said.
Lendeborg’s knee loomed as a bigger concern than his injured ankle, and he clarified that’s what he received the MRI on.
He did return to the court to play nine minutes in the second half wearing a compression sleeve over the injured knee, but he appeared ginger and clearly was limited.
“He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA,” May said. “And a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA.”
That included draining a pair of second-half 3-pointers, as Lendeborg finished with 11 points on four shots.
Lendeborg said Saturday night that he would do everything possible to play. Michigan trainer Chris Williams told ESPN that there will be intense rehab to get Lendeborg ready for Monday night.
“He might move into my room,” Williams said Saturday. “You’re laughing, but he might move into my room. We have two beds in there, so we might have to find another room for my wife and my son.”
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