UNC Basketball: Bacot only bright spot in blowout loss

Other than a strong performance from Armando Bacot, not much went right for the UNC basketball program against No. 21 Kentucky on Saturday night.

For anyone who braved the storm and actually watched most of (if not the entire) UNC basketball game on Saturday night, I sincerely apologize for the amount of time you wasted.

It was a brutally pathetic performance from the Tar Heels, as they suffered a 29-point loss to Kentucky in Las Vegas as part of the modified CBS Sports Classic. Wearing their alternate black uniforms for the first time this season, North Carolina simply could not get anything going en route to an utterly disappointing loss.

Needless to say, Kentucky was the better team, and that was never a question from the opening tip. The Tar Heels continuously beat themselves, as they had sloppy play (12 turnovers) and a poor shooting effort (just 1-13 from three-point land) that played a role in the blowout decision.

In games like this, it’s very, very difficult to choose a “Tar Heel of the Game” recipient. However, there was one Tar Heel who actually showed up to play.

Armando Bacot was quite frankly the only reason the Tar Heels were even still in the game at halftime. The junior big man scored 17 of the Tar Heels’ 29 first half points, as the deficit was down to just 11 heading into the break. He took advantage of some mismatches, especially when Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe was forced to the bench due to foul trouble.

Kentucky slowed him down a bit in the second half, but Bacot still finished with a team-high 22 points. With his 10-rebound effort, Bacot recorded his seventh double-double of the season.

As ugly as this game was, you have to think how much worse it would’ve been without Bacot’s presence on the floor. Even when the Tar Heels looked absolutely lifeless, Bacot continued to provide effort in trying to keep his team in the game.

For all of our sakes, we hope that this is the last time our “Tar Heel of the Game” article is based on an ugly UNC performance. However, regardless of the outcome, we’ll be here to award the Tar Heel who stands out the most in each remaining contest this season.

Check back on Tuesday night to see which UNC basketball player will earn the “Tar Heel of the Game” award for the team’s matchup with Appalachian State.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Armando Bacot and the rest of the UNC basketball program.