Michigan in Final Four: What to know about Wolverines' road to Indianapolis

Michigan in Final Four: What to know about Wolverines' road to Indianapolis

No team has impressed more this NCAA Tournament thanMichigan. The Wolverines have pummeled their way to theFinal Four, their first since 2018.

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Led by Big Ten Player of the YearYaxel Lendeborg, Michigan has won each game by at least 13 points and have the look of a championship favorite.

Here's what you need to know about Michigan's road to Indy and the Wolverines' stars that led them there:

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Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) shakes hands with forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) against the Howard Bison during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) dunks the ball against Howard Bison guard Bryce Harris (34) during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May talks to forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) before a substitution against the Howard Bison during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) shoots the ball against Howard Bison guards Cam Gillus (2) and Alex Cotton (4) during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) dunks the ball against the Howard Bison during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts after a dunk in the first half against the Saint Louis Billikens during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Michigan Wolverines bench reacts in the second half against the Saint Louis Billikens during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Saint Louis Billikens in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with fans after defeating the Saint Louis Billikens in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball against the Saint Louis Billikens in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. Michigan Wolverines huddles during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Alabama Crimson Tide at United Center. Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Michigan Director of Basketball Operations KT Harrell, left, and Director of Player Development Drew Williamson celebrate a play against Alabama during the first half of NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 27, 2026. Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a basket against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a basket against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois Trey McKenney #1 and Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates the 90-77 win against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Morez Johnson Jr. #21 and Roddy Gayle Jr. #11 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Yaxel Lendeborg #23 embraces Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines on the bench against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Yaxel Lendeborg #23, Aday Mara #15, and L.J. Cason #2 of the Michigan Wolverines react on the bench against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts from the bench in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) dunks the ball in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Elliot Cadeau #3, Yaxel Lendeborg #23, and Roddy Gayle Jr. #11 of the Michigan Wolverines react against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

See the best photos of Michigan basketball's run to 2026 Final Four

Michigan road to Final Four

  • First round: beat No. 16 Howard, 101-80

  • Second round: beat No. 9 Saint Louis, 95-72

  • Sweet 16: beat No. 4 Alabama, 90-77

  • Elite Eight: beat No. 6 Tennessee, 95-62

Michigan basketball roster

Ricky Liburd

Hollywood, Fla.

Trey McKenney

Flint, Mich.

Lakeland, Fla.

Elliot Cadeau

West Orange, NJ

Nimari Burnett

Oscar Goodman

New Zealand

Howard Eisley Jr.

Tualatin, Ore.

Roddy Gayle Jr.

Niagara Falls, NY

Charlie May

Boca Raton, Fla.

Harrison Hochberg

New York, NY

Zaragoza, Spain

Morez Johnson Jr.

Riverdale, Ill.

Yaxel Lendeborg

Pennsauken, NJ

Malick Kordel

Oberhausen, Germany

Will Tschetter

Stewartville, Minn.

Michigan basketball stat leaders

  • Yaxel Lendeborg, 14.9 ppg

  • Morez Johnson Jr., 13.2 ppg

  • Aday Mara, 11.9 ppg

  • Elliot Cadeau, 10. 3 ppg

  • Trey McKenney, 9.7 ppg

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  • Morez Johnson Jr., 7.3 rpg

  • Yaxel Lendeborg, 7.0 rpg

  • Aday Mara, 6.8 rpg

  • Elliot Cadeau, 5.7 apg

  • Yaxel Lendeborg, 3.3 apg

  • Aday Mara, 2.5 apg

Michigan basketball Final Four history

This is Michigan's ninth trip to the Final Four and first since 2018.

  • 1964: lost to Duke in semifinal, 91-80; beat Kansas State in 3rd place game, 100-90

  • 1965: beat Princeton in semifinal, 93-76; lost to UCLA in final, 91-80

  • 1976: beat Rutgers in semifinal, 86-70; lost to Indiana in final, 86-68

  • 1989: beat Illinois in semifinal, 83-81, beat Seton Hall in final, 80-79 in OT

  • 1992: beat Cincinnati in semifinal, 76-72; lost to Duke in final, 71-51

  • 1993: beat Kentucky in semifinal 81-78 in OT; lost to North Carolina in final, 77-71

  • 2013: beat Syracuse in semifinal, 61-56; lost to Louisville in final, 82-76

  • 2018: beat Loyola Chicago in semifinal, 69-57; lost to Villanova in final, 79-62

How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?

Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.

Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues

Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn't stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.

∎ Read moreabout Cadeau overcoming adversity via USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg.

One of Dusty May's son is a walk-on, the other is a student manager

Dusty May is surrounding by family on the Michigan bench. His son Charlie is a walk-on for the Wolverines, while another son,Eli, is a student manager— a role Dusty served under former Indiana icon Bob Knight.

In Michigan's Elite Eight blowout win over Tennessee, Charlie got into the game anddrilled a 3-pointer, much to the delight of his Wolverines teammates.

"It's obviously tough to give up playing the game and being on a team wearing a jersey," Dusty May told USA TODAY Sports about Eli's role. "But I just thought as far as his long-term development, all the things our managers learn, problem-solving, they learn people skills. They learn to function. We try to give them a lot of responsibility because we know if they're ever going to make it in coaching … they have to have the experience of doing meaningful work. Our managers have helped him become much more responsible."

Where is Aday Mara from?

The 7-3 UCLA transfer is from Zaragoza, Spain. Mara was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Michigan basketball in Final Four: Top players, March Madness results

 

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