Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau led the No. 1-seeded Wolverines to their first NCAA championship in nearly four decades, defeating No. 2 UConn 69-63 inside the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Monday night.

How Elliot Cadeau carries the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship

Cadeau stepped up in the tournament, but his performance Monday night was crucial. After Michigan’s star forward Yaxel Lendeborg sprained his MCL, Cadeau scored a game-high 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting, adding three rebounds, two steals and two assists. He was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.

“It means the world to me. I’m just so proud of myself, where I came from,” Cadeau said, according to The Detroit News. “Last year I was really down on myself, a lot of people doubted me, and I’m just so proud of myself for me to be able to say I was the most outstanding player and win a national championship at the same time.”

Elliot Cadeau on the criticism he’s faced: ‘I try not to let it affect me’

Cadeau spent two years at the University of North Carolina, where he struggled with his performance and drew criticism from the team’s fanbase. The public closely scrutinized his every move. He later transferred to the University of Michigan in the summer, a decision all parties agreed on.

“I feel like there’s been so much critics, so much criticism against me for the past couple of years. I try not to pay attention to it, but I do see it,” Cadeau said, his voice slightly cracking. “I try not to let it affect me and just try to just believe in myself no matter what people say about me.”

At Michigan, Cadeau averaged a career-high 10.3 points per game this season with 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds per contest. He helped the Wolverines finish one of the most dominant seasons in men’s college basketball history, including their postseason run in the Big 10 and the Final Four tournament, according to USA Today and Yahoo! Sports.

Despite facing setbacks in his collegiate career, Cadeau had a strong support system. His brother, Justin Cadeau, always believed he would achieve great things.

“I always knew he was capable,” Justin told The Detroit News. “You know, he was a champion in high school, played on one of the best teams at AAU. It was only a matter of time for that to translate to college.”

Who is Elliot Cadeau?

Cadeau is an American-Swedish player from West Orange, New Jersey. He played for Coach Bill Armstrong at Link Academy in Missouri, where he earned MaxPreps All-America honors in 2023 after being named a Freshman All-American in 2020. He helped lead the team to a 27–1 record and a GEICO Nationals championship while averaging strong assist numbers. Cadeau previously attended Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey but missed his sophomore year due to an ankle injury, according to his bio on Michigan’s website.

On the AAU circuit, he played for New Heights Lightning, averaging 15.7 points and 9.3 assists during the 2023 EYBL season, earning offensive MVP honors during one session and multiple all-team selections, and also competed in elite camps such as Pangos All-American, Under Armour Elite 24, and Basketball Without Borders.

Cadeau’s time at Michigan gave him a fresh start, showcasing the type of player he would ultimately become, particularly under head coach Dusty May’s program.

“We felt like we needed a quarterback, a pass-first quarterback on the floor at all times,” Michigan coach Dusty May said, per The Detroit News. “… He’s a savant. He’s brilliant. He’s made us better coaches, and hopefully we’ve helped him become a better player.”