Michigan looked more like itself Tuesday night, dispatching Indiana 86-72 in a game that showed flashes of the Wolverines team fans have been waiting to see. After a couple of solid, if not entirely convincing, wins over Washington and Oregon - and a stumble at home against Wisconsin before that - Michigan opened its three-game homestand with a performance that felt more in rhythm, more cohesive, and certainly more confident.
Let’s dive into five key takeaways from the win, starting with the guy who set the tone early.
Elliot Cadeau sets the tempo early
Junior point guard Elliot Cadeau didn’t just bounce back from his rough outing against Washington - he made a statement. After being held scoreless in that game, Cadeau came out with purpose against Oregon, dropping 17. He followed that up Tuesday with 19 points, most of them coming in the first half when Michigan needed a spark.
With the Wolverines turning it over nine times and struggling at the free-throw line early (seven misses in the first half alone), Cadeau’s production was a stabilizing force. His 12 first-half points weren’t just timely - they were essential. Michigan wasn’t always clean offensively, but Cadeau’s ability to create his own shot and keep the offense moving helped them weather the early turbulence.
“He’s shooting the ball well,” head coach Dusty May said after the game. “He spends a lot of time in the gym with the staff, working on his game, being consistent with it.”
That consistency is starting to show. Cadeau’s decision-making in the pick-and-roll was sharp, reading Indiana’s coverage and adjusting on the fly.
When the Hoosiers went under screens or were late to switch, Cadeau didn’t hesitate - he pulled up and knocked down shots. And when defenders pressed up, he found bigs like Aday Mara and Morez Johnson on the roll or kicked it out to shooters on the perimeter.
This version of Cadeau - confident, aggressive, and in control - changes the ceiling for Michigan’s offense.