'I feel like myself': Elliot Cadeau's 15 points against Cal build guard's confidence

Elliot Cadeau reached double-figures seven times in the same number of games to begin the season. Last year, the UNC sophomore guard only reached double-digits seven times in total. To start the 2024-25 season, he averaged 14.4 points. Cadeau presented himself as the new-and-improved version that work in the off-season promised. 

But that was 11 games ago.

Following a one-point performance in a 94-79 loss to Alabama, Cadeau's production staggered. He returned to mistakes that dominated his first season with the Tar Heels, getting into foul trouble early and being an unreliable scorer. What began as a near doubling in production of his scoring average last year, the sophomore experienced a mid-season scoring drop-off that slowed his production to 6.8 points per game through UNC’s first five ACC matchups. 

On Wednesday night, Cadeau returned to the early season version of himself. His 4-4 start sparked North Carolina’s 79-53 win over Cal in the Dean E. Smith Center, as the guard recorded a season-best 15 points in ACC play. 

“Starting these past couple weeks, I feel like myself again,” Cadeau said. “It feels great.” 

Often viewed as a pass-first point guard, Cal’s defensive scheme to guard Cadeau resulted in drop coverage that limited his passing ability. Early recognition allowed Cadeau to step into a wide-open 3-pointer. He was also able to attack the basket. 

As a result, Cadeau finished with 15 field goal attempts on the night, tying his career high. 

“I feel like the bigs were kind of playing the pass, so it was just forcing me to just put up more shots,” Cadeau said. “I felt comfortable doing it.” 

To head coach Hubert Davis, this significant increase in shot production doesn’t bother him as long as it’s “shots the whole team wants.” He said he ignores shot diets when those who need to be taking them are. 

Instead, Davis is more content feeding the hot hand. And on a night when graduate guard RJ Davis scored a season-low seven points, his usual shot amounts went to Cadeau.

“Tonight it was Elliot and Seth," Hubert Davis said. "The next night, it could be RJ and Ian. It's the versatility and what each one of them brings together [that] compliments each other.”

Although he doesn’t look to lead the team in shooting, Cadeau takes what the defense gives him. Often it's driving to pass, but against the Golden Bears where the defense dictated his play, his focus turned toward attacking the rim. 

“To see [him] be aggressive, make shots, and make the defense pay for guarding him a certain way it was great,” first-year guard Ian Jackson said.

It’s flashes of his early-season excellence that has helped bring Cadeau back to feeling like himself again. First, it was a confidence boost from his game-winning 4-point play against Notre Dame that helped get him out of his mid-season slump. 

Now, Wednesday night’s 15-point performance may resurrect Cadeau’s scoring confidence as the season rolls along. Dating back to last year, the Tar Heels are 14-4 when Cadeau scores in double figures. 

For this reason, getting Cadeau back to a consistent 10-point threshold every night will help decrease the scoring pressure on Davis when the veteran guard struggles. Teammates like junior guard Seth Trimble hope that performances like last night, and big-time plays like his game-winner at Notre Dame are all it takes for Cadeau to return to his early-season style. 

“You just need that one play sometimes,” Trimble said. “And since that Notre Dame game, he's been really, really good for us and we just need him to keep going.”

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