What does the addition of Elliot Cadeau mean for Michigan’s backcourt?

Head coach Dusty May is no stranger to the transfer portal as he gears up for his second season at the University of Michigan, and he’s already using the portal to his advantage in a big way. He picked up former UNC guard Elliot Cadeau, whose 9.4 points and 6.2 assists per game averages from the previous season will undoubtedly make him a great addition to the roster.

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It will be interesting to see how Cadeau will fit into the bigger picture alongside returning guards LJ Cason and Roddy Gayle Jr., as well as five-star recruit Trey McKenney. As we saw in the Sweet 16 matchup against Auburn, coach May is gonna have to refine his team’s play in the backcourt if he wants to make another run come next March.

How Should Dusty May Utilize Cadeau in the Backcourt?

Elliot Cadeau finished the 2024-25 season ranked 15th in the country for assists per game. His passing skills will hopefully prove an invaluable asset to a Michigan team who struggled quite a bit with turnovers in the 2024-25 season. It will be interesting to see how high Cadeau’s ceiling can be with a brand new set of teammates, and how coach May will help him further develop an already elite skill set in his passing game.

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Each of May’s guards – current and incoming – show immense promise in their individual games. The question of how May will capitalize upon those individual skill sets to create a team-wide chemistry amongst them in the backcourt, however, remains to be seen.

What’s more, with the question of who will replace Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf in the frontcourt still looming, it will be absolutely essential for May to get the ball rolling in the backcourt early on.

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