Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ projected 2021-22 starting lineup

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 12: Garrison Brooks #15, Caleb Love #2, Armando Bacot #5, and Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels talk during a game against the North Carolina Central Eagles on December 12, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 67-73. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 12: Garrison Brooks #15, Caleb Love #2, Armando Bacot #5, and Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels talk during a game against the North Carolina Central Eagles on December 12, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 67-73. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, NC – JANUARY 11: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels plays during a game against the Clemson Tigers on January 11, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 76-79 in overtime. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /

Armando Bacot

Armando Bacot returning to Chapel Hill for his junior campaign was paramount to a successful season for the Tar Heels. Hubert Davis believed some time ago that Bacot would return, but it wasn’t until late June that the 6-foot-10, 240-pound big man officially made the announcement.

With Bacot back, though, and the additions of Brady Manek, Dawson Garcia and Justin McKoy, along with the continued development of the sophomore class, the new-look Tar Heels should be in position to win any game they’re in this season.

Bacot averaged team-highs in points (12.3) rebounds (7.8) and shooting percentage (62.8). He scored double-digit points in 20 games as a sophomore, and recorded a team-best seven double-doubles. And despite Bacot’s inability to step back and hit shots from outside — the biggest knock on his game, and the thing that often caused defenses to crowd the paint — he was still North Carolina’s best and most consistent option offensively.

Equipped with so many capable shooters now, the Tar Heels should be able to spread the court and limit the defense’s ability to apply double-teams or clog the lane. With multiple scorers on the perimeter, in particular, and Bacot’s propensity for getting high-percentage shots inside five feet, the UNC offense could be lethal in 2021.

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