The North Carolina Tar Heels put together an impressive first half in Sunday’s Elite Eight game against Saint Peters, leading at the break 38-19.
A big reason why UNC was able to get out to the big lead was the play of junior forward [autotag]Armando Bacot[/autotag]. Going into the game, Bacot was a double-double machine passing Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe with 29 on the year, the most in the country.
Bacot recorded 15 first-half rebounds to give him 468 on the year, passing Wake Forest legend Tim Duncan for fifth-most in a single season in Atlantic Coast Conference history. It’s also the most in the conference since the 1985-86 season per SportsReference. Bacot added more rebounds in the second half and moved past Wake Forest’s Len Chappell who had 470 in the 1961-62 season.
With at least one more game left, Bacot has a long ways to go to get to the top which would be an impossible feat. NC State’s Ronnie Shavlik recorded 581 in the 1954-55 season and 545 a year later to take the top two spots.
Wake Forest’s Dickie Hemric had 515 in the 1954-55 season to finish third on the list.
Bacot’s incredible season continues on for at least one more game as he has helped navigate his team this far in the tournament.
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