Sports

Elliot Cadeau Shades ‘Stupid’ North Carolina In National Title Celebration After Ugly Split

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© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images


Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player after leading the Wolverines to a national championship.

The transfer shined on the biggest stage. He paced his team in scoring during the title game. He then took to social media to blast his doubters.

Cadeau began his career in Chapel Hill at the University of North Carolina. He spent two seasons with the Tar Heels, averaging 8.3 points and 5.1 assists per game.

He was inconsistent at times during that stint. Three-point shooting was an issue, as were turnovers. He landed the brunt of the blame for UNC’s inability to meet expectations.

The Tar Heels barely slipped into the NCAA Tournament field in Cadeau’s sophomore year. After winning a First Four game, the season ended in the first round of March Madness.

There were then rumors the guard demanded $2 million to stay with North Carolina as a junior, though his family denied the claims. His brother, instead, blamed Cadeau’s transfer to Michigan on the coaching staff.

The coaches just didn’t have much belief in Elliot. It was at the point, you know, Elliot’s shooting in a game, he missed a shot and coach is taking him right out… You know what that does to a kid’s confidence? He’s shooting the ball, he would miss and he’d automatically be out of the game.

The UNC system I just think wasn’t for Elliot. I don’t know if y’all watch, but at UNC, they don’t shoot midranges. The coaches think a midrange is a bad shot, which was one of Elliot’s best shots.

Elliot Cadeau transferred.

Dusty May, however, did believe in the guard. Despite the narrative that followed from Chapel Hill, the coach took a chance on bringing the transfer in. One year later, Cadeau proved his doubters wrong.

The point guard boosted his scoring average to 10.5 points per game with the Wolverines. He also saw a jump in three-point shooting alongside a dip in turnovers.

His production helped Michigan earn a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament field. Cadeau was unstoppable in the postseason.

Cadeau averaged 12.3 points a night while dishing out 7.5 dimes. He was at his best during the Final Four.

In Michigan’s win over Arizona, he posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. Dusty May insists those numbers should’ve been better. Some of his “missed shots” were actually intentional passes off the backboard.

Cadeau sacrificed his stat line to win the game.

In the national title game vs. UCONN, he led all scorers with 19 points before being named MOP. He let his haters hear about it in the postgame celebration.

UNC caught a stray.

“They said I couldn’t do it,” he said in an Instagram Live video from the locker room. “They tried to tell me I was a–. What was they talking about? They tried to tell me I was a–, stupid.”

Cadeau commented further on those doubters in his postgame press conference.

“I’m just so proud of myself,” he said. “Last year, I was really down on myself. A lot of people doubted me. I’m just so proud of myself to be able to say I was the Most Outstanding Player and win a national championship at the same time.”

Elliot Cadeau is a national champion. He quieted a narrative of negativity following an ugly split with his former school. He let the Tar Heels know about it while cutting down the nets.