All Tar Heels

Expert: UNC Basketball Boasts Nation's Premier 'Super Senior'

Armando Bacot should again be UNC basketball's sure-thing double-double machine.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball center Armando Bacot (Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports)
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Armando Bacot is absent from the first round of 2024 mock drafts. Potential one-and-done point guard Elliot Cadeau is the only 2023-24 UNC basketball talent who often appears there.

But regarding past production at the college level and potential to manufacture double-doubles and the likes again this season, there are few safer bets than Bacot as the 23-year-old big man gears up for his fifth campaign with the Tar Heels.

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This week, NCAA college hoops expert Andy Katz ranked the top 10 "super seniors" (those using their extra year stemming from the NCAA's decision not to count the truncated 2020-21 season against any player's eligibility).

And Katz has the 6-foot-11, 240-pound Bacot, already a three-time All-ACC performer, four-year full-time starter, and UNC's all-time leader in rebounds (1,335) in double-doubles (68), at the top:

He's the only ACC player on Katz's list.

Bacot and senior point guard RJ Davis, a preseason candidate for the Bob Cousy Award, are the only two returning UNC basketball starters and the only two scholarship players who were on the 2021-22 Tar Heel squad that reached the national championship game.

They're on a mission to bounce back from a discouraging 2022-23 campaign (20-13, 11-9 ACC, no NCAA Tournament invite) with the help of Cadeau and a handful of other rookies and transfers who figure to comprise the regular rotation under third-year head coach Hubert Davis.

Their regular season gets underway on Nov. 6 with a home game against Radford.

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Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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