North Carolina taking an "all hands on deck" approach to rebounding

After the departure of Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram from the UNC Basketball program, one of the biggest questions going into this season was how North Carolina would replace their rebounding production.

Bacot averaged just over ten boards a game last season for the Tar Heels, and Ingram averaged 8.8 per game. Together, they accounted for over 50% of North Carolina's total rebounds.

At the ACC Tip-Off event in Charlotte, head coach Hubert Davis discussed how the Tar Heels would address this problem and continue their reign as the ACC's number-one rebounding team.  

"Losing Armando and Harrison, others have to step up… I've always said it's the number one determining factor in an outcome of a game. Rebounding on both ends, attacking the offensive glass as well. I'm really excited about this group, the versatility, the depth, the athleticism that allow us and put us in a position to continue to be good in terms of rebounding the basketball."

One player who will undoubtedly need to step up in terms of rebounding is Jalen Washington, the six-foot-ten forward, who now happens to be the tallest player on North Carolina's roster. Washington averaged just 2.6 rebounds a game in 8.4 minutes last year, and as his minutes increase this year due to the void that Bacot left, his rebounding numbers need to follow.

At the UNC Basketball program's Media Day, Washington confirmed that this is the healthiest and strongest he has ever felt entering a season, allowing him to "rebound and defend better."

Washington isn't the only returning Tar Heel that is looking to improve his rebounding numbers. Junior guard Seth Trimble, who averaged 2.1 rebounds a game on just over 17 minutes per night, shared that he has been working on rebounding as well.

"If I'm ever the '2,' you won't see me crashing… But when I'm the '3,' you'll see me go and just trying to get a board. Being as fierce as I can, being as competitive as I can. I have the ability to go do it. He knows that, so he (Hubert Davis) sends me. And when I don't go, I gotta run for it."

In addition to Trimble and Washington, North Carolina was successful in finding rebounding talent via the portal. Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin is coming off a sophomore campaign where he averaged 6.3 rebounds a game, and the six-foot-seven Belmont transfer Cade Tyson is also a force on the glass, averaging 5.9 rebounds a game last season.

With Bacot and Ingram gone, the Tar Heels have some big shoes to fill. But with returning players and transfers seemingly so eager to step up, there should be a feeling of confidence and excitement in the Tar Heels rebounding ability this season.