By R.L. Bynum
Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson and Teonni Key are headed to the Sweet 16 to face familiar foes they’ve never beaten. Meanwhile, the college careers of Ven-Allen Lubin, Tyler Nickel, Jalen Washington and Puff Johnson came to heartbreaking ends in the NCAA tournament.
Here’s when you can watch those former Tar Heels this weekend:
- Cadeau’s No. 3-ranked and No. 1-seed Michigan team (33–3) faces No. 18-ranked Alabama (25–9), a No. 3 seed, at 7:35 Friday (TBS) in Chicago in the Midwest Regional
- Jackson’s No. 13-ranked and No. 5 seed St. John’s team (30–6) faces No. 1 Duke (34–2) in the East Regional in Washington at 7:10 Friday (CBS) in Washington.
- Key’s No. 17-ranked and No. 5-seed Kentucky team (25–10) takes on No. 3-ranked and No. 1-seed Texas (33–3) in the Fort Worth 3 Regional.
Cadeau is 0–2 against Alabama, Jackson is 0–3 against Duke and Key is 0–2 against Texas.
Cadeau had two excellent floor games with only three turnovers as No. 3-ranked Michigan rolled to two NCAA tournament victories in Buffalo, 101–80 over Howard and 95–72 over Saint Louis.
“I would say just patience on offense,” Cadeau said, explaining his team’s low turnover rate. “These last two games, we felt like offensively we could get anything we wanted to. We didn’t have to make any home-run plays. We could just hit singles and score every time. That was our mentality going into the game those last two games.”
Cadeau had five points and nine assists for the Wolverines against Buffalo, then collected 12 points, three 3-pointers, four rebounds and eight assists in the second-round game.
Both of Cadeau’s losses to Alabama came as a Tar Heel, including scoring eight points in only 13 minutes in the Crimson Tide’s 89–87 victory in the 2024 West Regional Sweet 16 in Los Angeles. Cadeau had one point and four assists in Carolina’s 94–79 home loss to the Tide on Dec. 4, 2024.
While it was easy for the Wolverines to advance, St. John’s (30–6) needed a buzzer-beating drive by Dylan Darling to earn a 67–65 second-round win Sunday in San Diego over No. 17-ranked and No. 4-seed Kansas.
Jackson scored 10 points and two 3-pointers in Sunday’s game after contributing nine points, two rebounds and two assists in Friday’s 79–54 first-round victory over Northern Iowa.
Jackson scored eight points in both regular-season UNC losses last season to Duke, 87–70 at Duke and 92–69 in Chapel Hill, then played 10 scoreless minutes in the Tar Heels’ 74–71 loss to the Blue Devils in the ACC tournament.
Key notched her ninth double-double of the season Monday and third in four games in Kentucky’s 74–73 win over No. 11-ranked and No. 4-seed West Virginia on its home court.
Key collected 19 points and 10 rebounds after contributing 10 points in Saturday’s 71–56 first-round victory over James Madison.
In two losses to Texas (67–49 at home on Feb. 13, 2025, and 64–53 at Texas this season on Feb. 9), Key combined for 20 points.
Nickel and Washington were narrowly denied the chance to continue their college careers for at least another game.
Commodores guard Tyler Tanner’s desperation buzzer-beating shot went in and out as No. 22-ranked and No. 5-seed Vanderbilt (27–9) lost to No. 15-ranked and No. 4-seed Nebraska 74–72 on Saturday in the second round of the South Regional before a partisan Cornhuskers crowd in Oklahoma City.
Nickel got hot from the perimeter and finished with 16 points and five 3-pointers, but couldn’t find the range in the closing minutes, and was a team-low -9. He added five rebounds after scoring 12 points in Thursday’s 78–68 first-round victory over McNeese State.
Washington combined for 10 points and eight rebounds in the two games, but was a team-high +6 in the Nebraska game.
Lubin tied his season-low with six points and had five rebounds before fouling out in N.C. State’s 68–66 First Four loss last Tuesday in Dayton.
Johnson watched from the bench as his Ohio State team lost 66–64 to TCU in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Greenville, S.C. His career began with 14 games at Carolina during the 2020–21 season, and included two seasons at Penn State before playing nine games for the Buckeyes.
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Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Oct. 14 exhibition — No. 11 UCLA 87, Cal 53 (road) | 27 minutes, 20 points, 8–18 FG, 4–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 fouls, +20
Sunday exhibition — No. 6 Texas 81, No. 11 UCLA 64 (in Cedar Park, Texas) | started: 31:15, 13 points, 4–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, -7
Season opener — 2 p.m. Monday vs. Lehigh, B1G+
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Tuesday exhibition — BYU 120, Western Colorado 36 (home) | didn’t start: 16 minutes, 13 points, 5–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +47
Season opener — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. Idaho State
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Oct. 11 exhibition — New Mexico 99, Oklahoma State 89 (home) | didn’t start: 24 minutes, 13 points, 3–10 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers
Friday exhibition — Oklahoma State 93, Tulsa 84 (home) | didn’t play
Tuesday exhibition — Wisconsin 82, Oklahoma State 65 (road) | didn’t play
Season opener — Monday vs. Incarnate Word
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday at Yale
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 37–3; won national championship; Cadeau MOP
Oct. 11 exhibition — No. 16 Michigan 87, Eastern Michigan 62 (home) | started: 26:49, 10 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 fouls, 8 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals, +28 (tied for team high)
Oct. 16 exhibition — No. 16 Michigan 98, Oregon State 83 (home) | started: 25:48, 27 points, 7–16 FG, 1–6 3FG, 12–15 FT, 1 rebound, 8 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 4 fouls, -1
Sunday exhibition — No. 10 Houston 83, No. 16 Michigan 66 (in Grand Rapids, Mich.) | started: 22:20, 9 points, 3–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–5 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 5 fouls, team-low -16
Season opener — Monday vs. Oakland, Big Ten Network
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3FG%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Oct. 13 exhibition — No. 5 Arizona 93, San Francisco 69 (home) | started: 31:03, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +17
Oct. 16 exhibition — No. 5 Arizona 82, San Diego State 67 (home) | started: 34 minutes, 12 points, 4–12 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals
Friday exhibition — Arizona 85, Eastern Washington 54 (home) | started: 22:48, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 foul, +18
Season opener — 10 p.m. Monday vs. No. 22 UCLA in Las Vegas, TNT
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Oct. 15 exhibition — Minnesota 72, Omaha 52 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 4 steals, 1 foul
Friday exhibition — Minnesota 89, Creighton 86, 2 OTs (road) | started; 13 minutes, 6 points, 3–4 FG, 0–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 foul
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday vs. North Dakota, B1G+
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Preseason rank: No. 15
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Oral Roberts, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Team record: 19–12
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Incarnate Word
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 33 games, 0 starts, 341 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 23 steals, 1 block
Season opener — noon Monday vs. Radford
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Monday exhibition — South Florida 104, Saint Leo 72 (home) | started: 18 minutes, 12 points, 3–4 FG, 6–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls
Season opener — 7:30 Thursday, Nov. 5, at DePaul
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 30–7; Final rank: No. 10
Oct. 14 exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 81, Drexel 52 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Oct. 18 exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 104, Rutgers 99, 4 OTs (home) | started: 49 minutes, 24 points, 8–17 FG, 2–7 3FG, 6–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Sunday exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 87, No. 7 Texas 74 (at Madison Square Garden) | started: 32 minutes, 18 points, 7–14 FG, 3–7 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 steals
Season opener — 6:30 Monday vs. Monmouth at Carnesecca Arena, ESPN+
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Team record: 20–14
Oct. 18 exhibition — N.C. State 77, Mississippi State 73 (in Greensboro) | started: 26 minutes, 13 points, 2–4 FG, 9–12 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 block, 3 fouls
Saturday exhibition — N.C. State 130, Lenoir-Rhyne 66 (home) | started: 23 minutes, 22 points, 5–5 FG, 12–13 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 1 foul
Season opener — 7:30 Monday vs. Campbell, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Season opener — Tuesday vs. Bethesda
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Oct. 17 exhibition — Providence 87, Pittsburgh 64 (road) | started: 31 minutes, 15 points, 3–10 FG, 2–7 3FG, 7–8 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Rider, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Team record: 18–14
Oct. 13 exhibition — Samford 71, Alabama A&M 61 (Boutwell Auditorium; neutral site in Birmingham) | started (never has started in 60 regular-season games): 12 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–6 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, team-high +17
Monday exhibition — Samford 80, Jacksonville State 75 (home) | started: 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks, team-low -17
Final exhibitions — 7 p.m. Thursday at Auburn
Season opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Berry
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Oct. 21 exhibition — No. 11 Louisville 89, No. 17 Kansas 83 (road) | started: 34 minutes, 12 points, 3–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 6–10 FT, 7 rebounds (tied for team-high), 4 assists (tied for team-high), team-high 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +8
Wednesday exhibition — No. 11 Louisville 71, Mercyhurst 39 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 10 points, 4–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, team-high 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday vs. Chattanooga
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via mgoblue.com
