UNC Basketball: Hubert Davis reveals a big benefit for Armando Bacot

The UNC basketball program has now won two-straight games in Atlantic Coast Conference play, keeping pace with the rest of the one-loss teams in the conference.

UNC got it done backed by another big effort from junior Armando Bacot who is elevating his game to another level here in his junior season. Bacot finished the game with 29 points and 12 rebounds, his seventh-straight double-double on the year.

Bacot has been fantastic here in this stretch and if he keeps it up, UNC should be able to keep pace with the top dogs in the conference. But overall, as the Tar Heels are finding their ways Bacot has become a leader and has had some valuable resources in helping with that along the way.

Following Saturday’s win, head coach Hubert Davis was asked about Bacot’s emergence and how valuable it’s been to have a coaching staff that features a legend in Sean May helping him. Davis admitted it’s a big benefit to have, especially with May being a center and having a dominant career with the Tar Heels.

“They coach him. It’s a huge benefit to have Sean May on staff, a guy that was an All-American here, was the MVP of the Final Four in 2005, won a national championship, played in the NBA,” Davis said via Inside Carolina. “So every day at practice, to listen and learn from somebody that has done it, that has been there before, that has done it at a high level for a number of years at the highest level, that’s a huge benefit. And I think Armando and all the bigs have really taken advantage of what Sean May can bring to the table. He’s a great coach, and he’s doing a terrific job with the bigs.”

May wasn’t the only coach that Davis mentioned either. The quote also mentions Jeff Lebo,  Pat Sullivan, Jackie Manuel, and Brad Frederick as well. All provide different ways of helping not only Bacot but other players along the way.

Being a first-time head coach, having a staff that can help you is extremely valuable and that’s been shown early on for Davis here in his first year. While things have been rocky at times, the Tar Heels have been able to survive and are in position to make a run here in February.

And if they are going to do that, it might be on the back of Bacot.

For more on the UNC basketball team and Bacot, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.