Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ projected 2022-23 starting lineup

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Caleb Love #2, Brady Manek #45, R.J. Davis #4, Armando Bacot #5, and Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels line up and talk during a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on February 16, 2022 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Pittsburgh won 76-67. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Caleb Love #2, Brady Manek #45, R.J. Davis #4, Armando Bacot #5, and Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels line up and talk during a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on February 16, 2022 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Pittsburgh won 76-67. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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Mar 19, 2022; Fort Worth, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) celebrates defeating the Baylor Bears during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

Armando Bacot

What didn’t Armando Bacot do in his junior season at the University of North Carolina? After making a big leap between his freshman and sophomore seasons, Bacot was absolutely outstanding in his third go-round with the Tar Heels and established himself as one of the greatest rebounders in program history.

Not only did he essentially re-write the UNC record books for total rebounds (511), double-doubles in a single season (31), and double-digit rebound games in a single season (32), Bacot is now the Atlantic Coast Conference record-holder in each of those categories as well. He took it one step further when he tied David Robinson’s all-time NCAA record for double-doubles in a season.

Bacot’s dominance on the boards was as good or better in the postseason when he became the first player in college basketball history to notch double-doubles in all six games of a single NCAA Tournament run. He averaged 16.5 rebounds per game during that stretch to go along with 15.3 points. Advanced metrics on Bacot’s superb season are even gaudier, as his per-100 possession averages were 29.3 points and 23.6 rebounds.

For the season, Bacot averaged team-highs in points (16.3), rebounds (13.1), blocks (1.7), and shooting percentage (56.9). He improved his career rebounding average to an even 10 boards per game, 3.4 of which have come on the offensive end of the court. He pulled down an impressive 4.3 offensive rebounds per game in 39 appearances as a junior.

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