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

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

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

Matthew Glenesk, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Mar 30, 2026 ·

3 min read

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No team has impressed more this NCAA Tournament than Michigan . The Wolverines have pummeled their way to the Final Four , their first since 2018.

Led by Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel 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:

Toppmeyer: Dusty May so good, you almost forget Sherrone Moore — now, UNC needs him

Michigan sends message: You don't want to play them

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.
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)

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.
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)

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.
(Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)

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.
(Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)

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.
(Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)

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.
(Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)

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.
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)

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.
(Ishika Samant, Getty Images)

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.
(Ishika Samant, Getty Images)

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.
(Ishika Samant, Getty Images)

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.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

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.
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)

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.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

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.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

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
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

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.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

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.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

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.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

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.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

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.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

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.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

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.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

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.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

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.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

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.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

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.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

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

Name	Position	Year	Height	Hometown
Ricky Liburd	G/F	Fr.	6-4	Hollywood, Fla.
Trey McKenney	G	Fr.	6-4	Flint, Mich.
L.J. Cason	G	So.	6-2	Lakeland, Fla.
Elliot Cadeau	G	Jr.	6-1	West Orange, NJ
Nimari Burnett	G	Gr.	6-5	Chicago
Oscar Goodman	F	Fr.	6-7	New Zealand
Howard Eisley Jr.	G	So.	6-0	Tualatin, Ore.
Roddy Gayle Jr.	G	Sr.	6-5	Niagara Falls, NY
Charlie May	G	Sr.	6-5	Boca Raton, Fla.
Harrison Hochberg	F	Jr.	6-7	New York, NY
Aday Mara	C	Jr.	7-3	Zaragoza, Spain
Morez Johnson Jr.	F	So.	6-9	Riverdale, Ill.
Yaxel Lendeborg	F	Gr.	6-9	Pennsauken, NJ
Malick Kordel	C	Fr.	7-2	Oberhausen, Germany
Will Tschetter	F	Gr.	6-8	Stewartville, Minn.

Michigan basketball stat leaders

SCORING

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

REBOUNDING

Morez Johnson Jr., 7.3 rpg
Yaxel Lendeborg, 7.0 rpg
Aday Mara, 6.8 rpg

ASSISTS

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michigan road to Final Four

Michigan basketball roster

Michigan basketball stat leaders

Michigan basketball Final Four history

How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?

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

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

Where is Aday Mara from?