All Tar Heels

Hubert Davis on UNC Basketball Big Man's Huge Game Against Tennessee

UNC basketball's Armando Bacot looked like himself again.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball center Armando Bacot (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
In this story:

Following UNC basketball's impressive 100-92 home win over 10th-ranked Tennessee on Wednesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge, Armando Bacot told the media that he had not been sleeping well.

He suggested that it was related to him failing to reach double-digit points for the now-No. 17 Tar Heels (6-1, 0-0 ACC) across their previous two outings in the Bahamas last week.

The UNC basketball graduate center bounced back against the Volunteers with 22 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field and a 10-for-13 clip at the charity stripe. That's not to mention his 11 rebounds, three assists, and eight drawn fouls across his 31 minutes of action.

In Hubert Davis' postgame presser, the third-year head coach praised Bacot's resiliency and work ethic behind the scenes:

"I know that he felt from a scoring standpoint that he wasn't as efficient as he wanted to be in the Bahamas. And he wanted to be better on the offensive end.

"The last couple of days of practice were real for him. He was locked in and wanted to make sure he was watching film with myself and [assistant coach Sean May] and just wanted to continue to learn and bounce back.

"I talked to him about, you know, for any player, there are going to be rainy days, and there are going to be sunny days, but what is your response? So, let's bounce back.

"And I was just really proud of him...his ability to consistently score down in the paint, get fouled, get us into the penalty. I've said this before: I think a huge growth in his game that goes overlooked is his free throw shooting. He's getting to the free throw line, and he's making them.

"I was really happy for him tonight. And my hope is that he can get sleep tonight."

UNC's Archrival Fails the Conference in ACC/SEC Challenge

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

Published
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.

Home/Basketball