All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Playmaker Earns First Career Start

Elliot Cadeau replaced the injured Cormac Ryan in UNC basketball's starting five.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
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On Thanksgiving Day, UNC basketball graduate guard and full-time starter Cormac Ryan sustained a right ankle sprain in the closing seconds of overtime in the 12th-ranked Tar Heels' 83-81 loss to unranked Villanova in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.

Out of precaution, Ryan did not dress for UNC's consolation bout against No. 20 Arkansas on Friday afternoon.

So, head coach Hubert Davis had the task of naming Ryan's replacement starter. He went with 19-year-old freshman guard Elliot Cadeau, a former five-star recruit and widely projected starter for the Tar Heels before the season began.

It marked Cadeau's first start as a Tar Heel. The other four starters against the Razorbacks were RJ Davis, Harrison Ingram, Armando Bacot, and Jae'Lyn Withers, who transferred to UNC from Louisville in the offseason and drew his first start this season against Villanova.

As for Cadeau, while the 19-year-old floor general did not tally an assist across his first stint on the floor, UNC held a 14-4 advantage when he came out for this first time over five minutes into the contest.

At the time of this article's publishing, Elliot Cadeau had yet to record a point, assist, rebound, steal, or block and was 0-for-2 from the field. However, UNC basketball led, 29-23, with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Following Friday's matchup, the Tar Heels will head back to Chapel Hill and gear up for Wednesday night's home game against No. 7 Tennessee as part of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.

Hubert Davis on UNC Loss: 'Great Learning Experience for Us'

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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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