As Michigan gears up for a high-stakes showdown with top-ranked Purdue, a video involving star forward Yaxel Lendeborg has added some unexpected noise to the buildup. The clip, which surfaced on social media this week, shows Lendeborg using profane language in reference to the Boilermakers - a moment that quickly went viral and raised eyebrows across the college basketball world.
But according to head coach Dusty May, the context behind the video paints a different picture.
May addressed the situation head-on, clarifying that the video wasn’t recent. In fact, it dates back to last spring, shortly after Lendeborg committed to Michigan. The excitement of joining a storied program, the adrenaline of a new chapter, and the casual setting of an after-hours establishment all played a role in what was ultimately a regrettable moment for the young forward.
“The most disappointing part of it is that he feels really bad about how he’s perceived - especially by kids and those who look up to him,” May said. “He told me, ‘Coach, I don’t even use that language in conversation.
I don’t like the way it makes me look. I feel terrible about it.’”
That remorse, according to May, is genuine. Lendeborg has taken ownership of the mistake, and the coaching staff is using it as a teaching moment - not just for him, but for the entire team.
“This is a great lesson,” May continued. “It’s one of the reasons he came here - to learn how to be a better pro.
And part of that is understanding that when you’re in the spotlight, you’ve got to carry yourself like someone’s always watching. Because, frankly, someone probably is.”
The timing of the video’s release - just days before Michigan visits Mackey Arena to face the No. 1 team in the country - could’ve been a distraction. But May isn’t buying into the idea that it’ll serve as bulletin board material for Purdue.
“I can’t imagine Loyer, TKR, Braden Smith - those guys - are sitting around getting fired up over something said at an over-21 establishment four months ago,” May said. “They’re killers already. They don’t need extra motivation when it comes to executing pick-and-roll coverage or transition defense.”
In other words, Michigan’s focus remains locked on the game plan, not the headlines.
May also made it clear that the program isn’t treating this as anything more than a momentary lapse in judgment. “He made a mistake.
This is a learning experience,” May said. “We can’t go back and change it.
But he’s a wonderful human being, and he’ll be better because of this.”
The Wolverines aren’t changing travel plans, and they’re certainly not letting the noise derail their preparation. For Lendeborg, it’s a reminder that the spotlight burns a little brighter at this level. For Michigan, it’s business as usual - with a massive Big Ten matchup looming.