Elliot Cadeau had a message for his doubters after Michigan Wolverines won its first national title since 1989. Following a hard fought 69-63 victory over No. 2 UConn Huskies, the point guard made sure his critics heard about it.
The Wolves 37–3 season made history for second-year head coach Dusty May. Michigan became the first team to win a national title with a starting lineup composed entirely with all-transfer starting five. May took over the program in 2024 and completed the turnaround just two years after leading Florida Atlantic to a surprise Final Four run.
However, nobody in that starting five carried more baggage into the season than point guard Cadeau. As a former five-star recruit, he struggled through two seasons at the North Carolina Tar Heels with a shaky jump shot and frequent turnovers.
The worst part? His 113 turnovers at UNC were the most committed by anyone in the ACC during his sophomore year. But when Cadeau transferred to Michigan in 2025, she started getting serious support from teammates and family
Roddy Gayle Jr. described him as someone who "mentally, just didn't feel like he could do it." His mother, Michelle, put it plainly, saying he simply needed to get "back to being him."
He found that version of himself by the 2026 title game. Cadeau led Michigan with 19 points, attacking the rim to go 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. It was the highest score of the night for any Wolverine, especially as star forward Yaxel Lendeborg limped through 13 points on a bad knee and ankle.
Following the historic win, Cadeau went on Instagram Live to vent, rhyming, "They said I couldn't do it. They tried to tell me I was [expletive], man."
Then he turned to freshman Trey McKenney in the frame and hilariously asked, "Are they talking about?"
McKenney didn't hesitate, shouting back, "Hell nah!"
Cadeau just shook his head and repeated it one more time for the thousands of people watching: "They tried to tell me I was [expletive]."
Winning the MOP award made Cadeau’s post-game rant hit harder. Being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player validated his decision to leave North Carolina and bet on himself with a fresh start in Ann Arbor.
And the best part? He is not going anywhere. While he is draft-eligible, analysts currently project him as a potential pick for the 2027 NBA Draft rather than this year.
Experts suggest another year in college will help him continue to improve his shooting and build on his MOP performance. He recently stated he will "definitely" be back, citing his ongoing development under Dusty May as the main reason.
