Wolverine Digest

Michigan's Dusty May, Yaxel Lendeborg React to Being Named Big Ten COY, POY

The Wolverines earned some major awards on Tuesday.
Trent Knoop|
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Michigan Wolverines

Michigan cashed in on Tuesday, winning some major Big Ten awards following a nearly flawless 29-2 regular-season record. The Wolverines won 19 conference games and Michigan won the Big Ten outright by four games.

Coach Dusy May was named the Big Ten's Coach of the Year, voted on by the Media. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, and Aday Mara was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year.

On top of those players and coach winning those individual awards, Morez Johnson Jr., Elliot Cadeau, and Trey McKenney were also given All-Big Ten honors.

Following the Big Ten's reveal, coach Dusty May took to social media to show that his award wasn't just an individual award, but a team and staff award.

May was also seen interviewing on the Big Ten Network and spoke about how satisfying this season has been for the Wolverines in Year 2 under his direction.

"When you have a group that's come from all different directions like ours have," May said. "We've only been here two years. Just to see how well they play together, how well they work together. Our staff models that behavior every single day for our players to follow. 
I think everyone in our program sees their value, brings their own secret sauce to the equation. And I think we're outperforming our individual parts because of how well we work together." 

Yaxel Lendeborg reacts

Yaxel Lendeborg became Michigan's ninth Big Ten Player of the Year. He is the first Wolverine to win the award since Trey Burke and Nik Stauskas did so back in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The UAB transfer led Michigan this season, scoring 14.7 points. He also grabbed 7.2 rebounds and dished out 3.2 assists.

Shortly after he was named the unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year, he appeared on the Big Ten Network to discuss his accomplishment. He also noted that he has one more promise he hopes to complete this season.

"It means the world," Lendeborg said on the Big Ten Network. "I'm super grateful to have it. I'm super happy that I was named Player of the Year. There's more to come. When I committed here, I made two-to-three promises. And I've completed two of them so far. Hopefully we can complete the third one [a national championship."

More Reactions

Following the reveal, social media exploded with reactions, and here are some of the best.

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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