By Brian Murphy, WRAL

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Mark it down: North Carolina’s first shot of the season — and its first make — was an Elliot Cadeau 3-pointer.

The ninth-ranked Tar Heels needed a late surge to topple Elon 90-76 Monday night in their first game of the season. There were plenty of lessons, good and bad, to take away from the opener.

On the positive side, however, was Cadeau’s overall performance (17 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks) and his game-high plus-28 rating.

But it was his 3-for-4 performance from 3-point range that might have been the most satisfying part for the sophomore point guard. It is a career high in made 3-pointers.

Cadeau made the ACC’s All-Freshman team in his first season at Carolina, averaging 7.3 points and a team-high 4.1 assists. But he shot a dismal 18.9% from 3 (10-for-53) and by the end of the season teams just ignored him on the perimeter which, in turn, hampered his driving ability.

In the NCAA Tournament, Alabama guarded Cadeau with a power forward and stationed the big man under the basket. That hurt.

“I watched it over about 10 times, just to motivate me,” Cadeau said Monday night. “I thought it was very disrespectful.”

So when Cadeau knocked down the first shot — of the game, of the season — he allowed himself a big grin.

“It was definitely, like, a weight lifted off my shoulders to just see a ball go in like that, especially the first play,” Cadeau said. “I was very excited, very happy.”

North Carolina’s Elliot Cadeau (3) drives the ball between Elon defenders during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Cadeau said he worked out twice a day, six times a week in the offseason with the 3-point shot as his “No. 1 priority.”

He said he didn’t have a specific number of shots in mind each day, but estimated he took between 200 and 400 daily. Sometimes with UNC assistant Marcus Paige. Sometimes with his trainer. Sometimes by himself.

No mechanical changes, he said.

“Just being more comfortable and confident,” he said.

It showed in game one. There will be tougher tests ahead, starting at No. 1 Kansas on Friday.

But for the Tar Heels to get where they’d like to go, Cadeau’s ability to hit 3s will be an important factor. Cadeau’s last 3-pointer of the game extended the Tar Heels’ lead to 77-71 with 5:17 remaining, giving UNC much-needed breathing room in a tougher-than-expected opener.

“That just shows how much work he’s put into this offseason on his 3-point shot, on his shooting in general,” said fifth-year guard RJ Davis. “He’s always been a great shooter. I think it was more of a confidence thing. i think he showed you guys today, you guys are going to have to close out on Eliot and once you close out, it’s hard to keep him in front. So now you got to pick your poison.”

For a UNC team that must find offense from someone other than Davis — who had a game-high 24 points and scored five straight after Elon had taken a two-point lead in the second half — having Cadeau be a threat from beyond the arc should open things up.

Like drives. And layups. And lobs. And kick outs to other open shooters. All things that are tough to do when no one is guarding you.

Said Cadeau: “I’ve been putting in a lot of work, it’s starting to show.”

Source: wralsportsfan.com