Ailing Yaxel Lendeborg Perseveres as Elliot Cadeau Leads Michigan to Title

With Lendeborg playing through injury, it was the doubted point guard Cadeau who propelled the Wolverines to the national championship.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:06am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the Michigan basketball team's championship victory, with sharp planes of color and overlapping shapes representing the team's collective effort and perseverance.Michigan's championship triumph is captured in a cubist, fragmented style that reflects the team's resilience and collective effort to overcome adversity.Indianapolis Today

Despite Yaxel Lendeborg battling through a knee injury, Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau stepped up with a dominant performance to lead the Wolverines to a 69-63 victory over UConn and earn the Most Outstanding Player award at the NCAA Final Four.

Why it matters

Cadeau's emergence as a championship-caliber point guard validates Michigan's decision to bring him in after his struggles at North Carolina, while Lendeborg's gutsy effort through pain showcases the team-first mentality that carried the Wolverines to the title.

The details

Cadeau scored 19 points, including several key plays down the stretch, to overcome UConn's defensive pressure and foul trouble. Meanwhile, Lendeborg, Michigan's leading scorer and best defender, was limited to just 13 points on 2-of-7 shooting due to a sprained ankle, bone bruise, and lateral collateral ligament issue suffered in the semifinals. But he fought through the pain to contribute in other ways, grabbing 3 rebounds in the second half to help seal the victory.

  • On Saturday in the semifinal game against Arizona, Lendeborg suffered the knee injury on a drive to the basket.
  • On Monday night in the championship game, Lendeborg played through the pain, logging 36 minutes despite being 'about 50 percent' due to the injury.

The players

Elliot Cadeau

Michigan's point guard who overcame doubts about his ability to lead the Wolverines to the national championship, earning the Most Outstanding Player award after scoring 19 points in the title game.

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan's senior forward who played through a significant knee injury to contribute 13 points and 3 rebounds in the championship game, showcasing his toughness and team-first mentality despite being limited physically.

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What they’re saying

“It means the world to me. I'm just so proud of myself, where I came from. Last year, I was really down on myself, a lot of people doubted me. And I'm just so proud of myself for me to be able to say I was the Most Outstanding Player and win a national championship at the same time.”

— Elliot Cadeau, Michigan Point Guard

“I knew I wasn't going to miss this game no matter what was going on. I was very tentative. I felt like I was pretty much holding my team down. I kept having opportunities to make plays and I couldn't make a play. But these guys stuck with me. They all believed in me.”

— Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Forward

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Cadeau's emergence as a championship-caliber point guard and Lendeborg's gutsy performance through injury showcase the depth of talent and team-first mentality that carried Michigan to the national title, overcoming doubts and adversity along the way.