The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 lowing me to go out there on the court and be myself." The freedom isn't unlimited, of course. May definitely has a plan for what he wants to see on the court, and knowing it intimately allows for freedom to work within the thoroughly explained parameters. "We meet a lot," Cadeau said. "We do a lot of film, talk a lot of basketball, and what he expects from me." Cadeau expects that Michigan won't represent the end of his basketball play- ing days. That proved yet another selling point for May, his style, and his program. "I felt like I was at a winning program," Cadeau noted of his college relocation. "I just needed a change of scenery, for me to reach my goal of playing in the NBA. The offense we play now is an NBA offense — giving the ball space, know- ing when to cut. Knowing how to play basketball. They're teaching us to know how to play basketball without calling any plays." TOUGHNESS AND TITLES T h e W i s c o n s i n s e t b a c k d i d n 't dampen Cadeau's long-term outlook in the slightest — or that of his team. They didn't like it, and couldn't wait to begin addressing any issues prior to their West Coast swing out to Washing- ton and Oregon. After that, it's Indiana, Ohio State and Nebraska at home, fol- lowed by a massive showdown against Michigan State in East Lansing. None of those games will feature an overabundance of touch fouls. Cadeau's garnered a pretty good idea of what's ahead. He's gearing up for it, knowing his teammates will do the same. "We'll just be physical back," Cadeau said. "I don't think we're a soft group, at all. We've got a lot of dawgs on the team, so just push back and be physical, if they want to do that." Most will, and Cadeau says bring it. One of only three Wolverines (Johnson and grad guard Nimari Burnett) to start in each of Michigan's first 15 contests, Cadeau came through that stretch av- eraging 10.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. He'll look to have many more halves like the team-igniting one he experienced against Wisconsin. But he'll also be looking to boost the Wolverines when very few are looking on. May preaches that better practices lead to better games, and his junior point guard assures he's fully on board. "It's being consistent in practice, every day, day to day, throughout the whole practice," Cadeau said. "Be con- sistent, and it will translate to the game. "We're not playing to our best ability for a full 40 minutes. It was like 20 min- utes [against Wisconsin], 20 minutes against Penn State. We need to learn how to sustain it for 40 minutes." Doing so seemed almost effortless not too long ago. Michigan built 10-point leads into 20-point advantages, and of- ten 30. A couple of close games — in- cluding a painful first loss — aren't about to shake the Wolverines, Cadeau assured. He's seen too much. From scintil- lating summer pickup games, to sheer dominance in Las Vegas, to a solid start in the Big Ten, Michigan remains a team that can't be ignored, its import point guard pointed out. Whether a home humbling will awaken a temporarily dozing giant remains to be seen. But the parts are still there for a March monster. "I think we can win the national championship," Cadeau insisted, un- blinking. "I think we can win the Big Ten regular season and tournament cham- pionships. Those are still our goals, even though we lost one game." Given the top-heavy toughness of the Big Ten this season, it figures to not be the only setback. But Michigan also fig- ures to continue growing together over the course of various challenges. The opening 14-game run looked amazing enough, considering that the Wolver- ines feature four new starters compared to the lineup that won the Big Ten Tour- nament last year, and that they'd never played together before this season. The season remains all about March, but it matters how teams arrive there. Cadeau and the crew are figuring on showing up loaded. ❏ Cadeau Assisting Michigan In A Big Way Elliot Cadeau racked up 78 assists in Michigan's opening 15 games this season. He's av- eraging 5.2 per contest, well ahead of the rest of the roster in that particular department. The junior transfer could be headed for an all-time top-10 season for Michigan assist men. That depends on a number of factors throughout the rest of the season. First, Cadeau needs to stay healthy, continuing to average at least the 23.6 minutes per game he achieved over the first 15. Of course, benches sometimes get shortened over the course of the campaign, and the junior could definitely see his minutes increase. He'd also need to maintain his present pace of notching just more than 5 assists per contest. Teamwise, Michigan would need (an expected) long run come March. Trey Burke set the Michigan record for assists in a season with 260, back in the Wolverines' run to the national championship contest in the spring of 2013. Cadeau won't touch that mark, but he could very well finish among the top 10 for assists in a single season, provided Michigan comes close to that many games played. Here is a look at the all-time single-season top 10 at U-M. MICHIGAN SINGLE-SEASON ASSIST LEADERS Total Player (Games) Season 260 Trey Burke (39) 2012-13 244 Zavier Simpson (37) 2018-19 236 Zavier Simpson (30) 2019-20 235 Darius Morris (35) 2010-11 234 Gary Grant (34) 1987-88 233 Rumeal Robinson (37) 1988-89 189 Derrick Walton Jr. (38) 2016-17 185 Gary Grant (33) 1985-86 184 Rumeal Robinson (30) 1989-90 178 Dave Baxter (27) 1977-78 Cadeau's current average pace projects to 203 over the course of 39 games. That would put him solidly in the top 10, at the seven spot. As noted, there are plenty of projections involved. But if Michigan gets anywhere near where it wants to go, and Cadeau keeps it up, he'll be placing his name somewhere higher in the Wolverines' record book. — John Borton