BUFFALO, N.Y. – The No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines have advanced to the Sweet 16 after blowing out the St. Louis Billikens 95-72 in the Round of 32 in Buffalo.
Saturday’s game showcased dominant performances by key players Yaxel Lendeborg, Nimari Burnett, and Elliot Cadeau, who all shined in the victory.
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Lendeborg finished with 25 points and a massive dunk to add to his highlight reel.
Speaking of jumping, Lendeborg said the jump from UAB to Big Ten competition during the NCAA Tournament has required a major adjustment, particularly in physicality and pace.
“It’s been a lot different, physicality, speed, just overall the game of basketball,” said Lendeborg. “I’ve learned to slow the game down and not get too high or too low. The most important thing is leaning on my teammates when things aren’t going well.”
Lendeborg added that playing under former UAB coach Andy Kennedy helped prepare him for the moment.
“He helped me be more aggressive when needed,” Lendeborg said. “He used to yell at me almost every possession, so I got used to hearing his voice and reacting quickly.”
Burnett highlighted Lendeborg’s impact play, a drive through two defenders capped by a dunk, as a momentum shifter.
“Dominican LeBron,” Burnett said with a laugh. “It gets as simple as those two words. It gave us another boost and helped extend the lead.”
Burnett finished with 11 points, while shooting 4/8 from the field and 3/5 from deep in the victory.
Cadeau credited improved patience for limiting turnovers in recent games.
“We felt like we could get anything we wanted offensively,” said Cadeau. “We didn’t have to make home-run plays — just hit singles and score.”
Lendeborg also noted a shift in second-half performance after earlier struggles.
“We’re learning from our mistakes,” Lendeborg said. “We’re coming out more aggressively and just leaning on each other.”
Both Burnett and Lendeborg praised Cadeau’s evolution as a scorer and facilitator.
“He makes the game easier for all of us,” Burnett said. “His patience and speed get us easy shots.”
Lendeborg added: “He’s always been pass-first, but now he’s a real scoring threat. If he’s off, it’s not the defense, it’s just one of those nights.”
Lendeborg said he’s familiar with the nickname “Dominican LeBron,” even if he doesn’t take it too seriously.
“It’s just funny every time they say it,” Lendeborg said. “It started during the summer with Morez Johnson Jr. and kind of stuck.”
Lendeborg said his increased aggression in the second half stemmed from early involvement in the offense and strong team play.
“It goes back to E. He was feeding me early,” Lendeborg said, referring to teammate Elliot Cadeau. “The ball was moving, it was hot, and I started feeling more comfortable and more aggressive.”
Lendeborg added that his performance is closely tied to the team’s overall energy.
“I thrive off the team’s energy,” Lendeborg said. “I got opportunities to make plays, and I made those plays.”
Cadeau said the team feels most comfortable playing at a fast pace after experimenting with a slower style late in the season.
“We definitely want to run a fast-paced offense and score in high numbers because we have so many talented players,” Cadeau said. “The last couple of Big Ten games were low-possession, low-scoring, and we won those, but that’s not really our style.”
Cadeau said recent games have allowed the team to return to its preferred rhythm.
“We think our play style is more high scoring and faster,” Cadeau said. “We tend to like games like this.”
Looking ahead, Burnett said this year’s team entering the Sweet 16 is defined by its consistency and chemistry compared with last season’s group.
“We had a great group last year, and we were really connected around this time,” Burnett said. “The difference this year is we’ve been connected all season long.”
Burnett pointed to the team’s depth and versatility as key strengths heading back to Chicago to the Sweet 16, highlighting teammates including Lendeborg, Cadeau, Johnson Jr., Aday Mara, Trey McKenney, Roddy Gayle Jr., and Will Tschetter.
“With our size, length, and speed, when you combine all that, we’re looking forward to the matchup,” Burnett said. “We’re ready to come out with a win.”