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UNC Basketball Benefits From Unmistakable Elliot Cadeau Leap

The UNC basketball point guard looks like a silky spot-up sharpshooter as a sophomore.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball guard Elliot Cadeau
UNC basketball guard Elliot Cadeau / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Not everything went smoothly for Hubert Davis' fourth UNC basketball team in Monday night's 90-76 home win over the Elon Phoenix in the Dean E. Smith Center. A 14-0 Elon run to take a 71-69 lead with 6:48 to play highlighted the No. 9 Tar Heels' concerns in their regular season opener.

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But one clear-cut positive for UNC is the apparent advancements that starting floor general Elliot Cadeau has made in his game since his freshman campaign.

Most notably, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound New Jersey native, who shot 18.9 percent from 3-point land last season, finished 3-for-4 beyond the arc against the Phoenix after shooting a combined 3-for-5 from downtown in the Tar Heels' two exhibition outings.

"I feel a lot more confident," Cadeau said after knocking down three 3-pointers for the first time as a Tar Heel. "I feel like I've put in a lot of work. It's cool to see. I'm very comfortable behind that 3-point line now."

Plus, Cadeau appears to have further refined his electricity and efficiency as a playmaker. In orchestrating an offense that committed only six turnovers, the lowest recorded total by any UNC basketball squad in a season opener, the 20-year-old delivered eight assists, the most by any Tar Heel in a season opener in his lifetime.

Add in the fact that Cadeau tallied 17 points, two shy of his career high, as the Tar Heels improved to 8-0 when he scores 10 or more.

For good measure, he even added a career-high two blocks. That's not to mention his four rebounds and three steals.

With all of the above in mind, despite the closer-than-expected final score, it's no surprise that Cadeau posted a career-high plus/minus of +28 across his 32 minutes of action.

Elliot Cadeau and the Tar Heels next face a road battle against No. 1 Kansas (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) at 7 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN2).

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Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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