Normally, National Champions aren't supposed to try to defend the belt without the head honcho. But these aren't normal times, and Dusty May is far from a normal coach. May became the first coach since Kansas' Larry Brown in 1988 to win the National Championship and leave college basketball when he chose to take the Dallas Mavericks gig and team up with the generational Cooper Flagg.
It's a move that 98% of coaches in the world would make, too, if given the opportunity. Michigan is left to try and run it back without the architect. Top assistant Mike Boynton was promoted to head coach and handed a two-year deal.
Michigan was able to retain its entire roster, except injured sixth man LJ Cason, who transferred to Miami. Can Michigan really be a National Championship contender again without May, three lottery picks and four more rotation players from one of college basketball's all-time dominant clubs? One year at Michigan has done wonders for Cadeau's Q rating.
Cadeau and Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. are the best two passers in college basketball. The vision, the touch, the anticipation, the fearlessness. That pass-first mentality should make all these Michigan newcomers settle in rather quickly because Cadeau spoon-feeds good looks routinely.
Cadeau also has some nastiness that will be needed even more without Morez Johnson to set the tone for every single practice. But there's more meat on the bone for Cadeau offensively. The 6-foot-1 guard answered questions about his jumper, but there's still some work to do inside the paint to become even more potent.
Cadeau shot just 47% on layups and 36% on floaters last year. He has the touch and creativity to be way better on that front. If it clicks, there's All-American upside for a guy who brings it on defense, passes the cover off the rock and can drain more than enough 3s to keep defenses honest.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
