Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Top 10 moments for Tar Heels in 2020-21

By Zack Pearson

Jan 5, 2021; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Andrew Platek (3) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2021; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Andrew Platek (3) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) and forward Armando Bacot (5) and guard Leaky Black (1) talk during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Armando Bacot’s coming of age

by Blake Cockrum

Watching UNC sophomore center Armando Bacot turn into a real force for the Tar Heels on both ends of the court was a welcomed sight for Tar Heel fans this season.

Bacot put together a pretty promising freshman campaign that saw him average 9.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, but struggle to finish consistently around the rim and shoot just 46.9 percent from the floor. That all changed a season later when the 6-foot-10, 240-pound big man converted a breathtaking 62.8 percent of his shots on the season, and increased his scoring average to a team-high 12.3 points per game.

He also notched a team-best seven double-doubles on the season, and scored double-figure points in 20-of-29 games as a sophomore. He scored 18 points to go along with a season-high 15 boards in a loss to Syracuse on March 1, and scored a season-high 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a victory at Pittsburgh in late January.

Bacot also went from being a player that struggled to convert close shots in the post with a tendency to turn the ball over to the team’s strongest, most consistent inside scorer and rebounder. He averaged more offensive rebounds and fewer turnovers in year two, and projects to be a sure-fire contender for ACC Player of the Year next season if he decides to return to Chapel Hill in the fall.

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