When it comes to the best big men in UNC basketball history, Armando Bacot is near the top of that list.
Bacot has averaged a double-double over the last three seasons, a stat he holds the program record for. He’s also North Carolina’s top rebounder, just a spot ahead of another Tar Heel great in Tyler Hansbrough.
UNC made an early investment in the fifth-year senior from Richmond, Va., as Bacot’s started every game since his freshman campaign in 2019-2020. Bacot has made improvements to his game each season, including a nearly 12 percent increase in free throw shooting (78.2 percent).
In Tuesday’s North Carolina-Notre Dame matchup, Bacot added another milestone to his storied collegiate career: the ACC’s all-time leader in games played. With Tuesday’s game, Bacot has now played in 162 career ACC games, the most of all time.
Bacot broke a tie with former UVA guard Kihei Clark, who donned a Cavaliers uniform from 2019 to 2023 and played in 161 career games.
Bacot took advantage of his COVID year from 2020-2021, deciding to come back to Chapel Hill for one more season. This was seen as a major off-court victory, as Bacot would provide a continued solid paint presence. Jalen Washington would’ve likely stepped in at center if Bacot left, but he’ll be doing so in the 2024-2025 campaign.
What more can Bacot do this year? Here’s to hoping he caps his final UNC season off with a Natty.
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