Elliot Cadeau's postgame quote proves he was never the problem at UNC

What a difference a year makes.

Just ask Elliot Cadeau, who went from being someone who faced a ton of criticism and hate in Chapel Hill to the hero in Ann Arbor.

Cadeau capped off his first season at Michigan in grand style, helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship victory over UConn. After leading Michigan with 19 points in the finals (along with posting a double-double effort in the Final Four), Cadeau earned the honor of being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

If you asked anyone if this would be a reality, most people wouldn't have believed you.

Elliot Cadeau re-writes his story

As they say, sometimes a change of scenery is needed.

For Cadeau, that change of scenery reaped benefits right away, as he found himself in a new situation where his coaching staff had unwavering faith in him, a roster around him that perfectly fit his style of play, and a support system that always had his back.

Unfortunately, that wasn't there for him at North Carolina.

“Last year, I was really down on myself. A lot of people doubted me. I’m just really proud of myself.”

From alumni ripping him (saying he was the problem) to the fan base ridiculing him for every mistake he made, Cadeau's time in Chapel Hill was very toxic to say the least. He took a lot of undeserved blame (especially given the poor roster construction around him for his sophomore season), and definitely had a head coach who didn't let him be himself.

Now, a year later, you can sense why North Carolina felt the need to part ways with Hubert Davis.

While his above postgame comments were humble, detailing his journey and how he overcame adversity, his Instagram live told the whole tale of how Cadeau is truly feeling.

Not a single UNC fan should have any issue with what he had to say, because he's spot-on.

Now, the teammate in the background who screamed "F**k UNC" might've irritated you a bit, but you have to realize that his teammates know what went down in Chapel Hill. Now, Cadeau is standing on top of the mountain, and has every right to take shots at the critics who crushed his confidence while playing at North Carolina.

Hopefully, the new coaching staff learns from Hubert Davis' critical mistakes, making every effort to not only develop the players, but to create a culture where they feel confident in themselves and are encouraged to simply be themselves.