Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Projecting Tar Heels’ starting lineup for next season

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Kerwin Walton #24, R.J. Davis #4, Day'Ron Sharpe #11, Leaky Black #1 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Dean Smith Center on February 24, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Marquette won 83-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Kerwin Walton #24, R.J. Davis #4, Day'Ron Sharpe #11, Leaky Black #1 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Dean Smith Center on February 24, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Marquette won 83-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
UNC Basketball
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 05: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels goes up for a layup against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center on January 05, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Armando Bacot

Upon hearing the news that Armando Bacot would be re-joining the team next season — a revelation made public by Hubert Davis via a recent conversation with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein — UNC fans felt like their team had a chance. Bacot was, after all, the Tar Heels’ best and most consistent player a season ago.

As a sophomore, Bacot averaged team-highs in points (12.3) rebounds (7.8) and shooting percentage (62.8). He notched double-digit points on 20 occasions last season, and recorded a team-best seven double-doubles. And when the Tar Heels really needed a bucket, it was Bacot, more often than not, that stepped up and made a big play.

The biggest knock on Bacot’s game is his lack of versatility. He doesn’t possess much of an outside game — he’s attempted just one three-pointer in two seasons — and he doesn’t really have the ability to step out and guard smaller players. When the Tar Heels run a high-low offense with Bacot at the top of the key, defenders often sag off of him and further crowd an already overcrowded painted area. That combined with the Tar Heels’ lack of quality long-range shooters was a recipe for disaster for Roy Williams’ squad.

Hubert Davis has already stated that he’s working with his entire team to become better long-distance shooters, Bacot included. Between that, the return of Kerwin Walton and the addition of Brady Manek, the Tar Heels could be a much-improved shooting team under Davis. If the 6-foot-10, 240-pound big man can add a better face-up game to his already improving offensive arsenal, he could be a tough matchup for opponents next season.

And even if he doesn’t, having Bacot in the Tar Heels’ starting lineup next season is a no-brainer.

Next. Top 15 moments of the Roy Williams era at UNC. dark

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC basketball program throughout the offseason.

Home/UNC Basketball