North Carolina’s backcourt should be among the best not only in the Atlantic Coast Conference but the entire country. They return the ACC Player of the Year in RJ Davis, as well as starter Elliot Cadeau and key backup Seth Trimble.
The trio along with freshman Ian Jackson will be key to UNC’s success this season and that’s especially the case if Cadeau can continue to get better in one area. His shooting.
In his freshman year, Cadeau was one of the best passers in the ACC and helped run UNC’s offense. And it sounds like he’s already taking steps forward in getting better with his overall scoring.
During UNC media day on Friday, Hubert Davis was asked where Cadeau has progressed the most. His answer is encouraging.
“His progression has been huge, but I would say specifically in two areas,” Davis said. “One, I mean, he’s just knocking down shots all over the place, and just the confidence as a result of the hard work that has been put in this summer.”
Cadeau shot 41.7 percent from the field and 18.9 percent from the three-point line in his freshman season. So putting the work in to get better is crucial for Cadeau.
He also is working on being a vocal leader as Davis pointed out.
“So he’s always thinking about the team, and then just his overall leadership is just off the chart. I mean, the way that he holds himself accountable, but to other players, the encouragement that he gives his teammates. One of the things that we like, which I love, is the progression of going from your freshman to sophomore to junior. . . The difference of Elliott as a sophomore compared to a freshman. It’s really neat about his progression.”
If Cadeau can improve even more from that impressive freshman campaign, it should bode well for UNC moving forward this season.
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