Hubert Davis reflects on Elliot Cadeau’s four-point play, what it meant for season

Elliot Cadeau hit the biggest shot of the season for North Carolina with a game-winning four-point play at Notre Dame on Saturday.

Following the 74-73 victory in South Bend, Hubert Davis explained his view of the shot by Cadeau. He said that he had no idea that there was a foul called on the three-pointer as he was already ready to call a timeout if it went in to set their defense. Instead of playing for overtime, though, the Tar Heels played that final possession with a one-point advantage that they’d eventually take over the Fighting Irish.

“I didn’t know that it was an and-one,” Davis admitted postgame. “I was hoping that it went in. But I was prepared to call a timeout to set up our defense and they said don’t call timeout. I was like I’m calling a timeout to set up our defense and they said he’s going to the free-throw line. I said who’s going to the free-throw line and they said Elliot. And, so, with the and-one situation, I told them after Elliot made his free throw that we would call timeout to set up our defense and we were able to get a stop at the end.”

“Yeah, I mean, I really wasn’t thinking too much on the three. I mean, I was hoping that it went in. The play that we ran? That’s one of the options,” continued Davis. “I told before. I didn’t know he got fouled. When it went in, it was crazy and I was prepared to call a timeout to set up our defense with a little bit more than four seconds to go and they’re like, ‘Don’t call timeout! He’s at the free-throw line!’. I said who’s at the free-throw line and he was like Elliot is. I was like he got an and-one? And I was like, okay, great. So, I mean, after he makes it, let me call timeout.”

The Tar Heels were down 73-70 with a few seconds after two free throws for the Irish. Cadeau got the ball back from Ian Jackson and, with two dribbles, he shot a three on the right wing that went in plus the foul on Matt Allocco. He’d then make the winning one at the charity stripe with him also defending the final attempt for Notre Dame at the buzzer that missed and, with that, UNC won it by the one.

Cadeau finished with 10 points and six assists on the day. He also made two of his three attempts from deep. That’s after making just nine total coming in with one of their lowest percentages from distance on the team.

That shot saved Carolina from a second straight loss in conference and their third total over the last five. It was also huge for their team in them seeing that scenario go their way according to Davis.

“At the end of the day, it’s about players stepping up and making plays,” Davis said. “Elliot made a lot. RJ, Ian – everybody that played made huge plays for us to be able to win on the road. It’s just hard to win in conference.”

“I think one of the ways that you build confidence is it working out, you know. You can build confidence through, like, watching tape and saying this is the way we did it and we can’t do it this way. But there goes a lot into it in building confidence when it works out for you,” said Davis. “I really believe, this group of kids? They needed it. They really did and I’m just really happy for them.”