ESPN Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi was asked in a recent article to give his picks for NPOY, who will win the Big Ten Conference and who will win the National Championship in 2025-26, and he was all about the Maize and Blue. He picked Michigan to win the Big Ten and the National Championship this year, while also picking Yaxel Lendeborg to win National Player of the Year.

Here is what Lunardi had to say about Lendeborg:

Lendeborg is the right man in the right place at exactly the right time to possibly collect some major hardware. Last season, only two Division I players led their respective teams in the five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and steals). One was Cooper Flagg; the other was Lendeborg at UAB. Now in a great spot at Michigan, Lendeborg’s number will be impossible to miss. That he could be the missing player for a legitimate Final Four contender is just a bonus.

Lendeborg was one of the most productive players in college basketball at UAB last year, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-AAC the last two years. Finally, he became one of only two players in Division I history (along with Larry Bird) to post 600-plus points, 400-plus rebounds and 150-plus assists in a season.

Making the jump from mid-major to the Big Ten comes with a learning curve for anyone, but in his first two exhibition games, Lendeborg looked right at home. He posted 18 points against Cincinnati, and then 25 points and 10 rebounds in the overtime win at No. 5 St. John’s.

Winning the Big Ten and National Championship does not revolve around one player, however. According to Lunardi and other ESPN writers, Michigan is set up better than most programs in the country not only because of the star players on the team, but because of the depth at each position.

The Wolverines signed one of the nation’s top transfer portal classes with Lendeborg, point guard Elliot Cadeau, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara. Pair that with returners in Nimari Burnett, Will Tschetter, Roddy Gayle Jr. and L.J. Cason, along with five star freshman Trey McKinney and four-star freshman Winters Grady, and you have yourself a deep team.

There is no question the Wolverines have the components to get to the National Championship, but a lot of pieces need to fall into the right place before that thought becomes top of mind.

Do you think Michigan has what it takes to win it all? Leave a comment below!