Two wins down, four to go. That's all that stands between the Michigan Wolverines and a long-awaited national championship on the hardwood.
After dispatching Howard and Saint Louis, the Wolverines now face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16. This matchup holds special significance for forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lendeborg, who transferred from UAB to Michigan, had hoped for a call from Alabama during his transfer process. Despite interest from other top programs like Kentucky, Alabama's lack of pursuit left a mark on him. Now, he's channeling that into motivation for Friday's clash.
According to NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach, Lendeborg expressed his feelings about the situation, saying, "It kind of hurt me a little bit." He added, "I'm going to try my best to be the best player on the floor tomorrow. It's not about showing them what they missed, but they could have at least called."
Interestingly, Michigan coach Dusty May revealed that Alabama did, in fact, try to recruit Lendeborg, despite his claims. May, who shares a friendly rapport with Alabama's Nate Oats, jokingly mentioned, "Don’t tell Yax, but they did try to recruit him."
FanDuel Sportsbook has Michigan as a 9.5-point favorite over Alabama. One factor in this is Alabama's shorthanded lineup, with star guard Aden Holloway absent due to legal issues. While Alabama has adapted with a bigger lineup, this strategy plays into Michigan's strengths, especially with Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson Jr. dominating the paint.
For Michigan, this tournament run is about more than just reaching the Final Four-it’s about breaking a championship drought that dates back to 1989. Despite the betting odds, the Wolverines feel poised to make a deep run. With Duke struggling and skepticism surrounding Arizona, Michigan's path looks promising.
Ultimately, anything less than a Final Four appearance would be a disappointment for May's squad. They've only lost three games this season, none on the road, though two were at neutral sites.
Facing Alabama, they'll encounter a similar crowd dynamic. But first, they need to handle business against the Crimson Tide.
While winning it all isn't guaranteed, Michigan falling to Alabama would be quite the surprise.