UNC Basketball 2023-2024 player preview: Armando Bacot
The 2023-24 college basketball season begins in under three weeks and our North Carolina player previews continue to roll out.
Today, we look at a player who is entering his final year with the program and has already had a historic impact on the program overall. Armando Bacot returns for year five, taking advantage of his COVID-19 season in hopes of leading this team back to the Final Four.
And Bacot is motivated after the team missed out on the NCAA Tournament last season.
He returns as UNC’s best player on the roster and one of just two starters from a year ago. While it’s a new-look Tar Heel team, Bacot is a staple in the post and will be in a lot of preseason All-American teams and player of the year award lists going into this season.
With that being said, let’s get into our player preview for Bacot as the season is around the corner.
2022-2023 season in review
Armando Bacot didn’t have a bad year by any means last season but he did battle through a few different injuries. He was dealing with a nagging shoulder injury and then also suffered an ankle injury that cost him a few games.
I think it’s safe to say that Bacot was never 100% healthy all season long.
Even with that, he produced another big season in Chapel Hill. Bacot averaged 15.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, while shooting 55.4 percent from he field.
His efforts earned him a spot on the All-ACC First Team and he finished behind Miami’s Isaiah Wong for the Player of the Year award.
To make it simple, even with the injuries he suffered, Bacot was still Bacot.
Projected role for 2023-2024
This one is easy but we have to go through it, anyway.
Bacot’s role will primarily be the same. He will be the best player on the team for Hubert Davis and will be looked at as a leader, again. That’s a role Bacot has adapted over the past few years and it’s been a warm reception from his teammates in Chapel Hill.
With some new faces on the roster through the transfer portal, it doesn’t seem like that will change. And the guys should look at Bacot as a leader to get them back on track.
Bold Prediction
There’s not a whole lot you can go to in terms of bold predictions for a player of this caliber. But I do think Bacot will achieve something he hasn’t so far in his career at UNC.
He will win the ACC Player of the Year award and he will get his jersey in the rafters for that achievement. And rightfully so.
I also do believe that Bacot will be in the running for National Player of the Year as well. With so many good players in college basketball this year, that race is going to be wide open. But a motivated Bacot in his final season should have something to say about it.
Armando Bacot breaks UNC All-Time rebounding record
The night of January 21, 2023 was a special one for not only Bacot but UNC basketball history. During a 80-69 win over NC State in the Dean Dome, Bacot surpassed Tyler Hansbrough for the most rebounds in program history.
Bacot grabbed rebound No.1,220, moving him past Hansbrough on the list which features some all-time Carolina legends.
Following the win, Bacot was greeted at halfcourt by Hansbrough for a special ceremony as two North Carolina legends were photographed together.
Graduation
Proud of y'all🎓#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/Xq3ytR06ZA
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) May 14, 2023
The achievements didn’t only come on the basketball court for Bacot.
Following the season, Bacot participated in the Spring commencement for the University, graduating with a degree in exercise and sports science.
