Yaxel Lendeborg Declares 'We Might Be the Best Michigan Team Ever' After March Madness Sweet 16 Win

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg expressed his belief that the 2025-26 Wolverines may be the best team in school history following a 90-77 win over Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA tournament.

"I feel like we're the best team in college basketball," Lendeborg said after the game (0:29 mark). "We might be the best Michigan team ever. We're gonna try to go for that. We're just gonna continue to play our brand of basketball and continue to try to keep winning."

He finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals while shooting 8-of-12 from the field in the victory.

Michigan trailed Alabama 49-47 at halftime of Friday's contest, but outscored the Crimson Tide 43-38 in the second half as it cruised to the win.

Despite Lendeborg's bold claim, the 2025-26 Wolverines would certainly have a case as the greatest team in school history if they're able to capture a national championship.

Michigan previously won a national title during the 1988-89 season and has put together several strong squads that have gone on deep March Madness runs since, including its "Fab Five" team that narrowly fell in the title game of the 1993 NCAA tournament.

Jalen Rose, who was part of the Fab Five, believed that the 2026 Wolverines could be in the conversation if they're able to secure a national championship.

"It'll be a conversation then," Rose said. "Because the one thing about Michigan being a football school and a lot of people are able to take this for grated, if you look at our history we've won it once or twice in football and once in basketball. But yet, we are required as Michigan to be in the top 10 in both. So if they go and win it all, of course it's time to have that conversation, '89 versus this team."

Lendeborg's all-around impact has been key for Michigan this season, as he averaged 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game on 51.5/36.1/83.0 shooting splits heading into Friday's action.