Michigan Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau thrived during Monday night’s NCAA Men’s Tournament national championship game against the UConn Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Cadeau scored 19 points to lead the Wolverines over the Huskies 69-63, giving Michigan its second national championship. Cadeau also won the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player Award. But just a week ago, it was unclear if he’d even play in the Final Four.
Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau Rallies Back From Scary Allergic Reaction
What’s so amazing about Cadeau’s performance on Monday night is that he was in a hospital just days ago. Cadeau had to be rushed to a hospital by ambulance after having an allergic reaction to cashews (which were on salmon).
But Cadeau, who had to travel separately from his Wolverines teammates to Indianapolis, shook off the hospital visit and became the most dominant player in this year’s Final Four.
Final Four Most Outstanding Player:
Elliot Cadeau.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 7, 2026
In Monday’s victory, he scored 19 points to go along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, while shooting 45.5% from the field in 30 minutes of action. In the Wolverines’ Final Four win over the Arizona Wildcats, Cadeau contributed 13 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 3-pointers while shooting 42.9% from long range.
Across the NCAA Tournament as a whole, Cadeau averaged 12.3 points, 7.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 3-pointers, and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting 38.7% from deep.
Cadeau, a junior from West Orange, N.J., averaged 10.3 points, 5.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game for the Wolverines in the 2025-26 regular season. He also shot 40.9% from the floor and 37.9% from beyond the 3-point arc during the regular season. But when Michigan needed him most, he really elevated his game and showed out.
With the national championship victory in place, Cadeau’s heroics will be something that Michigan fans will be talking about for a long time to come. Michigan head coach Dusty May had his team ready to go up against a tough UConn team that’s been a juggernaut in recent years.
On Monday night, though, the Michigan men, especially Cadeau, proved to be tougher down the stretch. The Wolverines were able to enjoy their own shining moment in front of their fans in attendance.
