New jersey number, same expectations for UNC basketball guard Elliot Cadeau
Elliot Cadeau is switching jersey numbers this season, but that doesn't change the fact that the UNC basketball program is expecting a big year out of their sophomore point guard.
Cadeau showed flashes of excellence as a freshman, putting his elite passing skills on display. While shooting the basketball efficiently was an issue, Cadeau is back and ready to be an even bigger factor for North Carolina this upcoming season.
2023-2024 Season in Review
In 2023, Elliot Cadeau reclassified to be eligible to play for the Tar Heels in what should have been his senior year in high school. As a 19-year-old, Cadeau started in 31 of the 37 games his freshman season with North Carolina and made an immediate impact. The freshman averaged 7.3 and 4.1 assists, with just 1.8 turnovers a game.
Elliot's playmaking skills are the main attraction of his game as a true point guard, and nobody questions his ability to get downhill and make tough layups. His biggest concern during his freshman season was shooting behind the arc. Cadeau shot just 18% from three last season, the worst percentage of any Tar Heel that attempted a three-pointer.
Luckily for Cadeau, players like Cormac Ryan, Harrison Ingram, and, of course, the first-team All-American RJ Davis picked up the slack in that department. But going forward, looking to earn respect and attention from defenders on the floor, this is Cadeau's most needed area for improvement.
What to Expect in 2024-2025
Cadeau is expected to remain in the starting backcourt this season with fifth-year guard RJ Davis. Although it's just his second year in Chapel Hill, with three true freshmen on the roster and a slew of transfers from across the nation, we can expect Cadeau to take on more of a leadership role.
And for his play on the court, as head coach Hubert Davis mentioned at the ACC media day event, "you won't recognize Elliot Cadeau." In the exhibition game against Memphis, Cadeau got a double-double with an impressive 13 assists, something to be expected of our pass-first point guard. But we also saw the sophomore knock down two three-pointers on 66% shooting from behind the arc, a pleasant surprise and possibly what his head coach was hinting at.
We can also expect Elliot to help push the pace of the game throughout the season. As a team that's relatively small in size, the speed of this North Carolina team could be the difference maker against bigger, slower, less athletic opponents.
Bold Prediction
Elliot Cadeau will be the best point guard in the ACC.
Everything the Tar Heels have done this offseason plays into Cadeau's strengths. They've picked up athletic wings to run and space the floor in Ven-Allen Lubin and Cade Tyson, which will, in turn, help Cadeau push the pace and move the ball up the court in transition, one of his biggest strengths. Playmaking doesn't look like it will be an issue, as the 13 assists in the Tar Heels exhibition game prove he's still just as effective passing the ball, if not more.
When you add the fact that his shooting may have improved, even if he shoots just 30% from three (which would be a major upgrade from a season ago), you've got one of the deadliest guards in the country. With the majority of the defense's attention geared toward preseason ACC player of the year RJ Davis, Cadeau should have plenty of space to improve and become an elite guard.