With just a few weeks until the start of the 2022-23 college basketball season, UNC basketball forward [autotag]Armando Bacot[/autotag] continues to receive preseason honors.
Already a candidate for National Player of the Year, Bacot earned another All-American honor by CBS Sports, being named a preseason First-Team all-American.
“Another no-brainer on our First Team,” CBS Sports college basketball analyst Matt Norlander said. “CBS Sports was one of only two major outlets to award Bacot as an end-of-season All-American in 2021-22 when he made our Third Team. A significant reason why was his elevated play in the NCAA Tournament. In guiding UNC to the title game, Bacot made history by becoming the first player in tournament history to have a double-double in six tournament games. He averaged 16.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. His 31 double-doubles tied for the most in a season in NCAA history. Carolina will try to win a title with Bacot as its centerpiece.”
Bacot was already named preseason All-ACC First Team and conference Player of the Year following ACC Media Day.
The 6-foot-10 forward returns to UNC following a terrific junior campaign averaging 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. He became the first player in NCAA Tournament history with six double-doubles in one NCAA Tournament. He also et the ACC record for double-doubles in a single season (31) and tied the NCAA record that David Robinson set in 1985-86.
Bacot is one of four starters from the National Championship runner-up team to return to Chapel Hill this year, helping the Tar Heels earn the preseason No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25.
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