By R.L. Bynum
Elliot Cadeau exacted his revenge on Alabama in one of two impressive performances that have returned Michigan to the Final Four. Meanwhile, Ian Jackson’s St. John’s team came two wins short, and Cade Tyson pursues a title on a much smaller stage.
Cadeau combined for 25 points and 17 assists as the No. 3-ranked Wolverines rolled to a 90–77 Midwest Regional semifinal victory Friday in Chicago over No. 18 Alabama and a 95–62 dismantling of No. 23 Tennessee in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
Michigan (35–3) takes on No. 2 Arizona (36–2) in a battle of No. 1 seeds in the second Final Four semifinal in Indianapolis at 8:49 p.m. Saturday (TBS).
Cadeau was eager to face the Crimson Tide after they ended his freshman season in the 2024 West Regional Sweet 16.
“I feel like I didn’t play as good as I could’ve last time, so I just want to play my best basketball,” Cadeau said before the Alabama game. He had eight points and one assist in the Tar Heels’ 89–87 loss to the Tide on March 28, 2024, in Los Angeles.
“A lot of people in college [were] telling me I didn’t know how to shoot,” said Cadeau, who has made 37.7% of his 3-point attempts this season and is averaging 5.8 assists. “Coming out here and making a lot, double my threes than last year, and making a lot at a higher clip is very satisfying for me.”
Against Alabama, he collected 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 33½ minutes, the right blend of aggression and control as Michigan turned a two‑point halftime deficit into a comfortable win.
Sunday, Michigan settled the game with a 21–0 first‑half run, and Cadeau’s fingerprints were everywhere on the way to 10 assists against just three turnovers.
“I think it was our offense,” Cadeau said. “Doing a good job passing the ball and just shutting them down on offensive glass. We had confidence in our first-shot defense, but they’re the best offensive rebounding team in the country, so that was a big emphasis for us, to just get the rebound.
Cadeau surpassed 1,000 career points during the regional final, giving him 1,005 in 112 games.
“Transition offense is a big part of this game,” he said. “We felt like they didn’t want to run with us, and so we pushed the pace a lot in transition.”
The Wolverines have completed a rare NCAA tournament streak with four double-digit wins while scoring at least 90 points in each game. In UNC’s run to the 2009 title, every win was by double digits, but the Tar Heels only topped 90 points twice.
“He just sets the pace and the tone of the game,” guard Nimari Burnett said of Cadeau after Sunday’s win. “He sees things that we don’t even see ourselves. A super unselfish guy, so the success that he has deserves it and more.”
It didn’t go so well for Ian Jackson, who lost to Duke for the fourth time in his career. No. 13 St. John’s lost in the East Regional Sweet 16 80–75 to the Blue Devils on Friday.
Jackson, while struggling on the defensive end, had only five points on 2 of 8 shooting in 16 minutes off the bench with two rebounds and two assists.
Also still playing despite having a losing record is Cade Tyson’s Minnesota team. The 15–17 Gophers play in the eight-team College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas. It’s the second season of the event.
Minnesota, which hasn’t played since losing 72–67 to Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament on March 11, faces Baylor (16–16) in a quarterfinal game at the MGM Grand Arena on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. (FS1).
A win would advance the Gophers to a semifinal game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against the winner of Wednesday’s 8 p.m. quarterfinal game between Oklahoma (19–15) and Colorado (17–15).
Minnesota doesn’t have the worst record of the teams in the tournament. That distinction goes to Rutgers (14–19), which faces Creighton (15–17) in one Thursday quarterfinal, with West Virginia (18–14) and Stanford (20–12) meeting in the other.
The championship game is at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the T-Mobile Arena.
Tyson leads Minnesota in scoring at 19.6 points per game while shooting 50% from the floor and 42.2% from 3-point range.
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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 FG%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 of an assist, 2.2 turnovers
Wednesday exhibition — UCLA 87, Cal 53 (road) | 27 minutes, 20 points, 8–18 FG, 4–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 fouls, +20
Exhibition finale —2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, vs. Texas in Cedar Park, Texas
Season opener — 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 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
Exhibition — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, vs. Western Colorado
Season opener — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, 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 FG%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists. 0.4 of a steal
Sunday 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
Remaining exhibitions — 3:30 Friday vs. Tulsa; 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Wisconsin, B1G+
Season opener — Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Incarnate Word
James Brown, Howard center
6–6, 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, Nov. 2, 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
Sunday exhibition — 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)
Remaining exhibitions — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Oregon State, B1G+; 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, vs. Houston in Grand Rapids, Mich., B1G+
Season opener — Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Incarnate Word
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
Tuesday exhibition — 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
Remaining exhibitions — 9 p.m. Friday vs. San Diego State, ESPN+; 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, vs. Eastern Washington
Season opener — 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, vs. 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
Exhibitions — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Omaha, B1G+; 7:30 Friday, Oct. 23, at Creighton, YouTube
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 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
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday, Nov. 3 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, Nov. 3, 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, Nov. 2, vs. Radford
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
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
Exhibition — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Saint Leo
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
Wednesday exhibition — 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
Remaining exhibitions — noon Sunday vs. Rutgers in MSG; noon Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Texas in MSG
Season opener — 6:30 Monday, Nov. 2, 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
Exhibitions — 4 p.m. Sunday vs. Mississippi State in Greensboro; noon Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
Season opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 2, 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, Nov. 3 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
Exhibition — 2 p.m. Saturday at Providence
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 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
Tuesday 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
Remaining exhibitions — 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at Jacksonville State; Thursday, Oct. 29 at Auburn
Season opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Berry
In eligibility limbo
Louisville guard Seth Trimble
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via mgoblue.com
