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Tensions were already high ahead of No. 1 Michigan’s trip to Mackey Arena. By the time player introductions began Tuesday night, Purdue fans made sure Yaxel Lendeborg knew exactly how they felt.
Loud boos rained down when Lendeborg was introduced, and within the opening minutes the crowd erupted into a profane "f— you Yaxel" chant directed at the Wolverines forward following his viral trash talk earlier in the week.
The hostility stemmed from comments Lendeborg made in a now-viral video previewing the matchup.
“When we see Purdue we gonna spank they f----- ass,” Lendeborg said while motioning to the camera. “We gonna beat they f----- ass. F--- Purdue.”
The remarks quickly circulated on social media, adding fuel to an already heated Big Ten showdown between conference heavyweights.
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Michigan entered the game 24-1 and ranked No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, sitting two games ahead of Purdue in the league standings. The seventh-ranked Boilermakers, 21-4 overall, had plenty at stake with March approaching.
Lendeborg has been key to Michigan’s rise this season, averaging 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He also entered the contest with a 26.3 player efficiency rating and a Big Ten-leading 16.8 box plus-minus, bolstering his status as a projected first-round NBA draft pick.
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With bracket implications and conference positioning on the line, Tuesday’s matchup was proof Michigan took a step forward in the 91-80 win over Purdue.
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