Michigan Basketball’s national title run ‘built’ Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney for bigger roles

The Michigan Wolverines took home the national championship last season behind the most dominant frontcourt in the country, but backcourt tandem Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney also played a pivotal part in cutting down the nets.

A year later, Cadeau and McKenney are set to step into bigger roles and become the leaders of the program this season. The confidence and experience that they gained from the national title run was invaluable and will lead to success this year.

"We definitely feel like there's more expectations on us and bigger roles for us," Cadeau said at Big Ten Media Day. "We're just really excited for it and very confident in ourselves for sure, and we're going to lead even more this season."

"Me and Elliot are definitely prepared for this year," McKenney told the media. "Last year, our team was so talented and we weren't asked to do as much as we could have done, but I think this season, we'll be able to show more of our game."

There wasn't a bigger boost in confidence across the country than what Cadeau experienced at Michigan last season. Cadeau went from a frustrating end to his time with North Carolina to being named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

"I feel like my whole life has built up to this year in a way," Cadeau explained. "In my first three years in college, I didn't really have the ball in my hands that much. I think this year, I'll have the ball more and I'm just very excited for it."

Cadeau was fourth in the Big Ten with 5.9 assists per game last year, while notching career-highs in points (10.5) and 3-point percentage (37.6). In the national title game, Cadeau dropped a game-high 19 points to lead Michigan to victory.

"We feel like when the team needs us at certain moments, we have the confidence to step up," Cadeau told the media. "Whether that's getting our other teammates involved or us scoring, we both feel like we can always make those plays."

Meanwhile, McKenney steadily improved throughout his freshman year and eventually emerged as a go-to player for the Wolverines in crunch time — culminating in him knocking down the game-sealing shot in the national championship game.

"He's always had a great maturity about his game and an understanding that you can only be as good as how hard you work for it," head coach Mike Boynton said when asked about McKenney. "Winning has always been the highest priority for him."

McKenney scored 9.9 points per game and shot a red-hot 39.1% mark from beyond the arc in his freshman campaign. In a lot of ways, McKenney was the x-factor for Michigan as the Wolverines went 26-0 when he scored in double figures.

Both players were named to the 2026 All-Big Ten Preseason Team so there's no doubt Cadeau and McKenney have high expectations this year. If the national title run was any indication, Cadeau and McKenney are ready to shine in bigger roles.

"Our experience is more in the backcourt this year with Elliot and Trey being the leaders of this group," Boynton said. "Both are among our hardest working guys. They set a great tone and we have great energy in our building because of that."

Now, Cadeau and McKenney hope to take the momentum that they finished last season with and carry it into this year. The Michigan backcourt has proven they have what it takes to excel in bigger roles, and lead the team on and off the court.