'I've never been pushed this hard': One WTF moment, but Yaxel Lendeborg embracing high standards Michigan coaches have for him

Michigan Wolverines basketball graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg scored 31 points and hauled down 12 rebounds in a 100-98 exhibition loss to Cincinnati Oct. 17, but head coach Dusty May didn’t think he gave enough.

“He can play better than that,” May said days later. “He can impact winning more than he did, and that just shows how high of a ceiling he has.”

The key word being ‘ceiling.’ May’s position is less about what Lendeborg did and what more he’s capable of. It’s a compliment to the 6-foot-9 UAB transfer that he has the gifts to do even more.

“When I heard that statement, in my head I was like, ‘What the …? What do you mean? I thought I played great,'” Lendeborg said Friday.

But, overall, he understood, and it was part of a common theme since he’s arrived at Michigan following his withdrawal from the NBA Draft — the staff pushing him to be his best.

“I love it,” Lendeborg said. “I just had to see where he’s coming from. He expects me to be a lottery pick, a long-term NBA guy, and I’m just expecting to play basketball for as long as I can, whether it’s NBA or Euro, pro, wherever. 

“I think it’s great. I’ve never been pushed this hard in my life, so it is something that I have to get adjusted to. I have to pretty much buy in. I’m still trying my best to get on his standard.

Lendeborg explained what May and the Michigan coaches were stressing with him about the game.

“I would say probably just there were some plays where I kind of slacked off, like giving up an offensive rebound off of a free throw,” he explained. “That’s something I never really do. Plays like that, where we could’ve won — and we lost by two, so that play right there was the determining factor.

“There were sometimes, again, with rebounding, where the ball went up and I didn’t go get it. He expects me to be a ball-getter, and I wasn’t doing my job that day.”

Lendeborg followed that up with 25 points and 10 boards in a 96-94 overtime win over St. John’s in the final exhibition contest.”

Michigan plays a fast tempo, and that’s been an adjustment for Lendeborg, too. He was winded during the Cincinnati game to the point that he was glad there were so many fouls, but he’s getting more conditioned as the season approaches. His involvement within the offense — and all of the opportunities he and his teammates have because of the increased possession count — are a welcomed surprise.

“I knew he played a pro-style of basketball, but actually being in it is ridiculous,” Lendeborg said. “I’ve never gotten this many opportunities to take this many shots as quickly. I’m somebody that doesn’t really like taking many shots. These last two games, I think I took 15 and 16 shots, and it felt like I took 7. It’s kind of interesting to be involved in.”

Lendeborg was a projected first-round NBA Draft pick this past summer, but withdrew to come back to college and play at Michigan. The feedback he got from NBA teams during that process lines up with what May and the Wolverine coaches have been harping on since he’s been on campus.

“The biggest thing I’ve heard is the defensive end and playing through contact,” Lendeborg said. “Coach Dusty is telling me every day I’ve got to play better through contact, so that’s been something I’ve been focusing on, and just playing off of two feet. I’ve made some bone-headed plays where I’ve played off of one foot and either had a turnover or just took a dumb layup. I’m still adjusting in the way I can finish through contact or take the first bump.

“Those are the main two things that we’re hearing from scouts, and the main two things that Dusty’s been telling me.”

And once he masters those, the Michigan staff will have other things for Lendeborg to focus on, as they round him into a complete and elite player.

“As we told him, over mountains are more mountains and over that mountain is another mountain,” May said. “What’s the winner of a pie-eating contest typically get? More pie, so it’s gonna be the same if he gets 40 and 20 next game, we’re gonna be on him about what he needs to work on and improve on, and continue striving to get better.”