Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball Player Preview: Armando Bacot

By Blake Cockrum

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Armando Bacot #1 of IMG Academy in Florida boxes out against Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of Kennedy Catholic High School in Pennsylvania during the 2019 McDonald's High School Boys All-American Game on March 27, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Armando Bacot #1 of IMG Academy in Florida boxes out against Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of Kennedy Catholic High School in Pennsylvania during the 2019 McDonald's High School Boys All-American Game on March 27, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Keeping It Heel continues previewing the 2019-20 UNC basketball program with freshman center Armando Bacot, who figures to play a big role in his first season with the Tar Heels.

Jeremiah Francis | Cole Anthony

Armando Bacot committed to the University of North Carolina better than a year ago, and he’s been one of the program’s best recruiters in the 15 months since. Tweeting at and talking to just about every target on the Tar Heels’ recruiting board over the past year, the exuberant young big man has made his presence felt in Chapel Hill, and that’s before even stepping foot onto the basketball court in any official capacity.

Despite being just 19 years of age, Bacot has exhibited behavior on campus and in front of the media that mirrors that of a seasoned veteran. That has already made Bacot a fan favorite, never mind his tremendous ability on the hardwood.

That ability — the kind that made him a 5-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American coming out of IMG Academy in the spring — should be enough to help him earn and maintain a starting role for the Tar Heels for the duration of his freshman campaign. His 6-foot-10, 232-pound frame doesn’t hurt either, given that Roy Williams and company have been desperately trying to get back to their traditional, but recently elusive, two-big front court.

What to expect in 2019-20?

UNC fans can expect to see a heavy dose of Bacot alongside Garrison Brooks in the Tar Heels’ front court this season. Not only do the two big men give Roy Williams a good-sized pair of starters in the low post, they also give the Tar Heels their most talented one-two front court punch this season.

Sure, Sterling Manley provides value when healthy, and Brandon Huffman can efficiently eat up some minutes in the right situation, but neither offer North Carolina what Brooks and Bacot do. And what exactly do the junior (Brooks) and freshman (Bacot) bigs bring to the table? Formidable defense, excellent rebounding, and fundamentally sound offense. Combine that with their size, and their much less likely to be mismatched and manhandled like Luke Maye often was in the painted area last season.

It wouldn’t be a shock to see Bacot nab 20 to 25 minutes a game as a freshman, and make a big impact on the team in the process. He’ll be called upon both for scoring and defense, and there should be a marked improvement in the Tar Heels’ front court this season, thanks in part to his arrival.

Bold prediction

Look for Bacot to have a solid freshman season for North Carolina. Expect him to put up double-digit points and a handful of rebounds per game. 10 points and five rebounds a night doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility for Bacot in year one, despite a bevy of offensive options on the roster. I’d also expect him to maintain a field goal percentage in the high 50’s to low 60’s, as many of his shots should come close to the bucket, and on short put-backs off of missed shots.

Next. 5-star big man eliminates UNC from contention. dark

Whether or not Bacot will stick around Chapel Hill for multiple seasons is yet to be seen, but UNC hoops fans should enjoy it for however long it lasts. They’ve been clamoring for the two-big lineup that they enjoyed so much during the Tar Heels’ 2017 title run, and have sorely missed it over the past two seasons.

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