On Saturday, UConn advanced past Illinois while Michigan defeated Arizona to reach the National Championship game. The Wolverines did so largely without their best player, Yaxel Lendeborg.
While Lendeborg's status will be a topic of discussion leading into Monday's game, he's more likely to play than UConn guard Solo Ball. As a result, Michigan is favored by seven points despite the Huskies being 6-0 in National Championship games.
Two players I have my eye on are Lendeborg and Trey McKenney. So, here's my National Championship player props for Monday, April 6.
Final Four Player Props for Monday, April 6
National Championship Player Prop Pick #1
Lendeborg entered the Final Four having scored 23 points in three consecutive NCAA Tournament games. That streak came to an end on Saturday due to the injury.
However, he still scored 11 points in 14 minutes, including six points on two 3s at the start of the second half. His form looked good and he appears to be good to go on Monday night.
While Michigan has proven it doesn't need its star to dominate, Lendeborg's injury may be providing a discount to his scoring line. He's averaged 19 points per game in the NCAA Tournament and is now averaging 15.1 points per game for the season.
He's scored 14 points in 24 of 39 (62%) games this season and in three of five NCAA Tournament games.
Additionally, with Lendeborg's versatile game at 6-foot-9, UConn doesn't have a great matchup for him. If he's primarily a jump shooter, he can still score 14 points because of the way Michigan moves the ball and sets him up for open looks.
Pick: Yaxel Lendeborg Over 13.5 Points
National Championship Player Prop Pick #2
Lendeborg's age has been a topic for many this season and a joke of many rival fanbases. However, Michigan's second-most talented scorer may be one of its youngest players. McKenney has scored 9.9 points per game this season, clearing this line in two thirds of his games.
The bright lights of the NCAA Tournament haven't phased him, as he scored 10 points in four of Michigan's last five games. He's averaging 12.6 points in that span, with 17 in the Sweet 16 against Alabama, 12 in the Elite Eight against Tennessee and 16 in the National Semifinal against Arizona.
He's done so on remarkable efficiency, shooting 63% from the field and 52% from 3-point range in the NCAA Tournament.
If there's some regression for him, McKenney still has 47/39/89 shooting splits for the season. If he plays around the 25 minutes or so he's been playing of late, I like his chances of scoring 10 points on Monday.
Pick: Trey McKenney Over 9.5 Points
