Eugene, OR – After being down double digits early, the undermanned Oregon Ducks went on a concerted run that got them back into the game against a Michigan team that looks to be one of the best in the country. With the clock winding down at the end of the first half, sophomore guard Wei Lin hit a three-pointer while being guarded by potential All-American, Yaxel Lendeborg, to give Oregon a 41-40 lead. The second half saw Michigan come out and dominate around the basket, with Aday Mara and Morez Johnson, Jr. getting deep post position, while Elliot Cadeau was able to attack and get to the basket, create. Michigan ultimately claimed a 81-71 victory, moving to 16-1 on the season.
With Jackson Shelstad and Nathan Bittle both sidelined for the foreseeable future, Oregon needed players to take on new roles. It had the potential to get ugly, coming off a 90-55 routing by #8 Nebraska. Former Montverde Academy teammates and juniors, Sean Stewart and Kwame Evans, Jr. both stepped up against Michigan’s front line that may be the best in the country.
Stewart in particular scored in double digits both halves, finishing with 22 points (10-14 FG), 8 rebounds, and two blocked shots. He banked in a couple of midrange shots, while hitting his lone three-point attempt on a BLOB action. With Oregon desperate for some offensive firepower, their current fifth leading scorer stepped up and did not back down from the Michigan team with a frontcourt full of projected 2026 Draft picks.
Evans, Jr. had 12 of his 18 points in the first half, with 2 steals and 2 blocks. He could draw the defense outside, manipulate his way to the basket on closeouts, and drew fouls. With Evans, the quicker he can get into his moves and decision making, seems to do wonders for offensive creation for the team. There were times when the ball stopped, and so did opportunities for easy baskets.
Wei Lin scored all 11 of his points in the first half, held to 0-of-8 shooting in the 2nd half. Takai Simpkins finished with 12 points, with 4 steals, many of which led to transition opportunities. He did not make any of his three-pointers, with the Ducks only finishing 6-of-18 on 3’s on the game. With Shelstad and Bittle sidelined, the long range shooting of Lin and Simpkins cannot be the combined 1-of-11 that they shot in this game.
For Michigan, Aday Mara made a massive statement to begin the second half. He went on a self 8-2 run, with a massive dunk taking Evans under the basket. He also showed his passing ability from both the low and high post, along with rim protection that made Oregon players think twice about taking it to the basket. The 7’3” junior transfer from UCLA finished with 12 points, 3 blocks, and led the early second half barrage that saw Michigan control the rest of the game.
Junior North Carolina transfer Cadeau led Michigan in scoring with 17 points, and while he finished with 5 assists and 4 turnovers, his impact on their offensive creation was notable. He used screens very well, and multiple times was able to get to the rim unabated. He was also 2-of-4 on 3’s, and the player that teams once loved to leave open is shooting 41.2% on 4 3 3-point attempts for the season. His quickness, stop/start ability, and tight handle, plus ability to make post entries fit really well with the current pieces the Wolverines have up front.
Fifth-year senior Nimari Burnett scored 10 of his 15 points in the first half, making 3-of-7 3’s while making all his two-point field goal attempts. He is a pesky defender, timely cutter, and is dangerous as a catch-and-shoot option. Morez Johnson, Jr.’s first half was brief due to foul trouble, but he scored 8 of his 9 points in the second half, all around the basket. He’s another major interior presence for Michigan, who have an array of weapons, and a bench that goes nine deep.
It was a season low point total for star UAB transfer, Yaxel Lendeborg, but he showed his value and versatility. Playing with two more traditional big men, Lendeborg handles the ball well, has over a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio currently, plus has greatly increased his three-point volume and is shooting 87.3% FT on the season. He also was the two-time American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and finished with 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 10 rebounds today.
Lendeborg’s lone basket was on a post seal, and he did tend to float around the perimeter rather than assert his dominance considering his physical tools, which include a 7’4” wingspan. Regardless, he did what he had to do and drew a lot of attention, while not making mistakes. Certainly not a banner game for a player who still is among first team All-American consideration, but the value of Lendeborg goes well beyond scoring, which is why he is such a tantalizing NBA prospect.
Oregon moved to 8-10 on the season, with a game against Michigan State taking place on Tuesday at 6 pm PST. This was their fourth loss in a row, and they will need continued presence from their junior Montverde duo, while greater shooting efficiency from their guards. They did a much better job holding onto the ball, with just 11 turnovers on the game, compared to Michigan’s 14, which certainly helped keep the game closer than anticipated. The Big Ten schedule is going to be tough, but this was a step in the right direction in terms of remaining competitive against a top ranked opponent.
This article was written by Michael Visenberg, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.
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