Armando Bacot is returning for another season with the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Tar Heels were inconsistent during last year’s regular season but really turned the corner in the second half of the year as the team became more comfortable with head coach Hubert Davis and what he was trying to do.
Bacot is returning but the Tar Heels will also have Leaky Black, R.J. Davis, and Caleb Love returning as well. Brady Manek is unable to return but the rest of the clan is coming back for the Tar Heels.
With that said, the Tar Heels are likely going to be the number one team in Top 25 rankings for pre-season polls.
The Recap
The Tar Heels fought all the way to the Championship game last year as an eight-seed but played much more like a one-seed as the season progressed. There were times when North Carolina looked lost though. Think about that time North Carolina lost to Miami by 30 points.
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But the talent was there. It just took time for a new coach and new players to settle into a new home.
Bacot’s Style and Influence
A lot of these players could’ve left for the NBA. But Armando Bacot’s game doesn’t really translate for the NBA. He was never a lottery pick and was a borderline second-rounder. Bacot returning was never a surprise. Caleb Love coming back was but not Bacot.
Bacot’s game is much better at the college level, where he averaged 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. He knocked down just under 57% of shots and was just an absolute horse on the glass during the postseason.
Bacot was also efficient. He rarely would take a whole lot of shots in a game. He understood the assignment and allowed the better playmakers the opportunity to get buckets. Bacot is a guy that lets the game come to him. He crashes the glass and earned a lot of points doing that. If an opportunity called his name, he was already ready and prepared and would take the matchup and run with it.
Bacot was even better on the road this season, scoring 19.4 points per game on the road while scoring just 14.8 points at home. That’s a very solid trait to have knowing that Bacot isn’t phased by being away from his home court. In the ACC, every road game is going to be a tough environment but Bacot never let that get to him.
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Bacot continues to develop into a star in college basketball and I’m sure having the NIL allowed Bacot and all of his teammates to return to school. There are plenty of opportunities to make money, especially when you’re on the North Carolina basketball team.
What’s Next
Therefore, Bacot’s return is going to be massive for the Tar Heels. He’s one of the best rebounders in college basketball and finishes at a very high rate around the rim. He’s also a rim protector and a big body that can take on anyone in the ACC.
With the returns of Black, Love, and Davis, the North Carolina Tar Heels are the best team in the nation to start the season. That’s dedication. It’s going to be fun watching this team and Bacot is a big part of it.
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