Elliot Cadeau Named Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player As Michigan Edges Past UConn For National Championship

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by Sam LanierApril 8, 2026, 12:11 am >

It was almost a year ago when guard Elliot Cadeau entered the transfer portal after two underwhelming seasons at the University of North Carolina. Fast forward a year, and he is now a National Champion for the Michigan Wolverines and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.

Cadeau was the main catalyst in leading Michigan to a 69-63 victory over UConn, scoring 19 points and shooting 5 of 11 from the field. Cadeau also had a double-double against Arizona with 13 points and 10 assists, as Michigan won in dominating fashion.

Michigan needed every single one of Cadeau’s efforts as Michigan’s star player and Big 10 Player of the Year, Yaxel Lendeborg, was dealing with an ankle injury and a sprained MCL that clearly impacted his performance.

It was quite the turnaround for Cadeau after struggling in his first two seasons of college, shooting 27.4% from three his freshman and sophomore seasons. That didn’t stop Michigan coach Dusty May from recruiting him, clearly seeing his potential as Cadeau would improve to a 37% three-point shooter this year.

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The story from Monday night was Michigan dominating the paint and struggling from beyond the arc all night, shooting 2 of 15. Michigan used its physical advantage to get to the free-throw line, and it made it count, going 25 of 28 from the charity stripe.

May took the Michigan job two years ago and has already turned their program around, going from missing the tournament in 2023 and 2024 to winning a National Championship in year two of his tenure.

The transfer portal was a key part of Michigan’s resurgence, as four of its five starters were at different schools last year. That includes Cadeau, who transferred from UNC, Lendeborg from Alabama-Birmingham, 7-foot-3 big man Aday Mara from UCLA, and Morez Johnson Jr. from Illinois.

Michigan was a true example of the new era of college basketball and what it takes to win a National Championship, utilizing the transfer portal and experience.