CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Armando Bacot said at ACC Tipoff that one spot in North Carolina’s starting lineup has not yet been filled.
He confirmed that UNC’s first five in last weekend’s scrimmage against Florida Atlantic was Bacot, RJ Davis, Cormac Ryan, Paxson Wojcik and Harrison Ingram. That was the same first unit the team used when Inside Carolina viewed practice three weeks ago.
Many have wondered if Elliot Cadeau would be among the five on the floor at tip-offs this season. The freshman guard has split point guard reps with Davis during practice and has learned under the veteran. Bacot sees Cadeau as a difference maker early on for the Tar Heels.
“We really haven’t figured out the full lineup yet,” Bacot said. “I think we kind of have an idea, but it’s still one spot that’s open that we’re still trying to figure it out. Elliot, just the way he plays, he’s gonna be a closer for us.”
Davis said that while they divide up the point guard reps, he and Cadeau do share the floor at times in the same lineup.
The senior guard said he isn’t sure if Cadeau will start, but he’s liked what he’s seen from him. Davis added that Cadeau goes out of his way to ask questions on how to best orchestrate the offense.
“Now, I’m kind of helping him out because I was once in his position as a freshman,” Davis said. “I didn’t have a senior guard (that was) experienced. So I think for me to give back and to be that person that I didn’t have for him. He’s been great. I love playing with him.”
The purpose of those two sharing is for them to be comfortable when those scenarios arrive in game situations. It also keeps the competition level up, with Davis guarding Cadeau’s athleticism and explosiveness and Cadeau defending against one of the ACC’s best returning scorers.
Along with his natural passing ability, Cadeau’s shown himself to be a willing shot-taker. But Hubert Davis said that Cadeau gets more excited for his successful passes than made shots. The head coach said he isn’t concerned about Cadeau’s ability to balance his shot selection with his duties as the on-court point guard.
“You gotta have five players out there, so there’ll be five players at all times sharing the court out there,” Hubert Davis said when asked about Cadeau and the starting lineup. “One of the things that I love to have is as many playmakers out there on the floor as possible. I just do. I like guys that can create shots for their teammates within the offense and outside of our offense when it doesn’t generate a good shot for us.”
Wojcik raved about Cadeau’s maturity at the team’s media day earlier this month. He added that Cadeau had “more bounce” than he initially thought.
“He’s uber-talented,” Wojcik said. “He’s a great basketball player, super skilled, super fast. He makes passes that not many people can make. He can really pass and has a high feel for the game. And then off the court, he’s just been awesome to have around.”
North Carolina will play an exhibition game against St. Augustine’s on Friday before its season opener opens on Nov. 6 against Radford.
Cadeau’s role will likely evolve as he transitions to the collegiate level. Regardless of whether or not he cracks the starting lineup in his first year, UNC is expecting him to take on a sizable role.
“It’s gonna be some growing pains for him, I think, just being a freshman guard,” Bacot said. “But coming on ACC play, I definitely think he’ll be one of the best guards in ACC.”