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UNC Basketball: Armando Bacot’s big game sparks Tar Heels

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 20: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives to the basket against the Elon Phoenix during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 20, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 75-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 20: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives to the basket against the Elon Phoenix during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 20, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 75-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Armando Bacot puts on a show, sparks UNC basketball to come-from-behind victory over Elon Phoenix

The new-look North Carolina Tar Heels haven’t quite gotten their rhythm down yet. In fact, they haven’t looked all that good in any of their first four games of the season, despite winning each. And they’re yet to crack the 80-point mark through the first two weeks of play, something we haven’t seen from Roy Williams-coached teams over the past 16 years.

Cole Anthony has been the team’s most prominent scorer and play-maker to this point, but the lack of consistency around him has been evident. For the kind of success that Williams and the Tar Heels are looking to have this season, they’ll need other players around Anthony to step up and perform on a regular basis. Who that player is going to be, though, we aren’t sure. But the progression of freshman big man Armando Bacot over the past two games sure looks promising.

The 6-foot-10, 232-pound center has recorded double-doubles in each of the team’s last two contests, and he’s playing efficient basketball on the court. In 23 minutes against UNC-Wilmington, Bacot scored 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and hauled in 11 rebounds.

Five days later, he again notched career-highs in points and rebounds, putting together a 22-point, 14-rebound performance against Elon. He hit 9-of-14 shots from the floor, and connected on 4-of-7 from the free throw line. He also added two assists, two steals and three blocks in 26 minutes of play. In doing so, he became the  first freshman to finish with 22 points and 14 rebounds in a game since Harrison Barnes had 24 and 16 against Long Island University in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Whether or not Bacot sustains this level of play is yet to be seen, but his current trajectory is outstanding. The Tar Heels will need him — and others — to continue getting comfortable in the offense, and flourishing in their respective roles. Because on Wednesday night when Anthony couldn’t buy a bucket — 4-of-14 from the floor and 0-of-5 from three-point range — it was Bacot’s play that helped the Tar Heels to victory.

Next. Nassir Little notches first career double-double. dark

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