UNC Basketball: Armando Bacot closing in on record

The UNC basketball program is heading down the stretch run of their 2021-22 season and with their NCAA Tournament hopes continuing to hang in the balance, every game feels like a must-win at this point.

On Saturday, UNC got another win and it was backed by a monster effort from forward Armando Bacot. The junior finished the game with 28 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 blocks, helping the Tar Heels control the game from start to finish. It was also Bacot’s 22nd double-double which is not only up there for most in the country but puts him close to a program record.

The 22 double-doubles are second-most in a single season for a Tar Heels’ player tying him with Billy Cunningham and trailing just Brice Johnson who had 23 in the 2015-16 campaign. With two regular-season games left and at least one Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament game left, Bacot has a shot at not only tying the record but passing it too.

With UNC fighting for their tournament lives, having a player like Bacot play at this high of a level is encouraging. The Tar Heels are going to need to have this effort again next week as the Tar Heels host Syracuse and then travel to Duke for a rematch with the Blue Devils on Saturday night in the regular-season finale.

This hot play should keep Bacot in the running for a first-team All-ACC nod and potentially the player of the year award in the conference.

For more on Bacot and other UNC basketball players, please make sure to check back with Keeping it Heel.