Dusty May weighs in on Michigan injuries, Yaxel Lendeborg after exhibition loss

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines dropped a 100-98 exhibition opener against Cincinnati on Friday night at Crisler Center, but what the matchup presented wound up being a bit different due to a few nagging injuries.

Big men Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara were held out of the game while they work through preseason ailments. Graduate forward Will Tschetter started the game at the five, while grad transfer Yaxel Lendeborg took the opening tip-off.

The reason the Bearcats were scheduled had a lot to do with their size and the challenges that it would cause. May made no excuses, saying that Michigan did not do a good enough job in setting a physical tone in Friday night’s contest.

“That’s where the game is different every night,” May said in his postgame press conference. “I was optimistic that we would simply look around and realize we’re playing a big, big strong team and we were going to set the tone early. And the opposite happened, where they threw their first four baskets, if I remember correctly, were on the offensive glass and that sets a different tone than you want and our vets have to do a better job of establishing that mindset early that we’re going to get hits, we’re going to find the ball and then get out in the open floor. 

Had it been a regular-season game, it seems likely that both the 7-foot-3 Mara and 6-9 Johnson, who are physical, rim-protecting pieces for Michigan, would have been available. May does not anticipate either being an issue long-term.

“I don’t want to speak for those guys, but Aday has been working out, doing court workouts and practicing a little bit,” May said. “So he’s not far off. Morez seems like he’s working in the right direction as well. So we’re optimistic we’ll have both of those guys in the near future.”

Sophomore guard L.J. Cason was the only other known preseason injury, but he suited up Friday night and played 14 minutes.

May weighs in on Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg

Landing Lendeborg gave Michigan the prize of the college basketball offseason and the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal. He had 31 points and 12 rebounds in his Michigan debut, but appeared to tweak something late in the game and played through it.

All is well, he said after the game. It was just the first bit of cramping he had ever dealt with.

“It was just two cramps in my [leg],” Lendeborg said. “First it was the hamstring, then it moved on down [to my calf].”

Lendeborg praised May’s system and how it emulates what he might run as a future professional. He also joked that the fast pace may have led to him cramping up.

“It was fun,” Lendeborg said. “I’m so used to being so systematic. This is just like pro basketball, that’s what it felt like. Everybody’s moving around, everybody’s touching the ball, and it was fast-paced. A lot of times this game, I was out of breath. So I think that’s where the cramps came from.

“But it is going to be really fun this year to play under the system.”

May thinks it was a good starting point for Lendeborg, but believes the Michigan forward is capable of doing more, especially on the glass.

“He was anxious to play in front of our fans in a Michigan uniform,” May said. “But I think we saw glimpses of what he’s capable of. He’s a unique talent. I think that he left some stuff on the floor that he’s capable of, even with 12 rebounds. I think there are going to be nights when he gets 18 or 20 if he’s really locked in.

“So our standards for him are extremely high. But yeah, I think all of our fans saw what he’s capable of. We’ve got to continue to find different ways for him to be successful.”