What was supposed to be a day celebrating Michigan’s new No. 1 ranking instead became a PR scramble for Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg.
Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg ahead of Tuesday’s matchup at Purdue:
“When we see Purdue we gonna spank they f*cking ass. We gonna beat they f*cking ass. F*ck Purdue.” pic.twitter.com/DlKspHSdT3
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) February 15, 2026
Wolverines head coach Dusty May spoke out today to defend Lendeborg, highlighting the player’s character and expressing how disappointed he was to let down the young fans who look up to him.
Dusty May:
“I spoke at length with Yaxel about it.. The most disappointing part of it is that he feels really bad about how he’s perceived from children and those that look up to him. He said, ‘Coach, I don’t even use that language in conversation. I don’t like the way it makes… https://t.co/jjzXL9taOI
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) February 16, 2026
Not everyone believed May’s words and Lendeborg’s apology were sincere.
“Coach, I don’t ever talk like that in private”…. “I mean except for the video showing that I do, in fact, talk like that in private and I am comfortable enough talking like that that I also did it on camera but…”
— Aksarben87 (@aksarben87) February 16, 2026
Oh give me a break lol “I don’t even use those words” https://t.co/FLofy7FLzg
— Dougie Tutter — FFF Enthusiast (@Dougie_Tutter) February 16, 2026
Michigan travels to West Lafayette on Tuesday to face the Boilermakers, which is sure to be a hostile environment for Lendeborg and the Wolverines.
