All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Star Armando Bacot Joins Exclusive ACC Club

The fifth-year UNC basketball center is among only four ACC players to grab at least 1,500 rebounds.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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In UNC basketball's 103-67 blowout win over unranked Syracuse in the Smith Center on Saturday, Armando Bacot finished with 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field and a 4-for-4 clip at the charity stripe. Plus, he led the No. 7 Tar Heels with 11 boards in what was the team's largest rebounding margin (53-30) this season.

Now, Bacot has 1,507 career boards, one of only four ACC talents and the first Tar Heel in history to join the 1,500-rebound club.

And he has a shot to become the all-time ACC leader as soon as later this month. After all, he needs only 74 more rebounds to pass the conference's record-holder in Wake Forest's Tim Duncan (1,570 from 1993-97).

Next in Bacot's sights is Virginia's Ralph Sampson (1,511 from 1979-83), then No. 2 on the list in NC State's Ronnie Shavlik (1,567 from 1953-56).

Note: Wake Forest's Dickie Hemric (1,951-55) corralled 1,802 rebounds for the Demon Deacons, but his first two seasons coincided with the program's last two years in the Southern Conference.

The 23-year-old Armando Bacot ranks No. 1 among UNC basketball players with his 76 double-doubles (eight in his fifth season, which stems from the NCAA not counting the 2020-21 campaign against anyone's eligibility) and is tied with Brice Johnson for the fifth-most games (148) in program history.

He's posting 14.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for the 2023-24 Tar Heels, his third straight year averaging a double-double.

NEXT GAME: UNC (13-3, 5-0 ACC) at home versus unranked Louisville (6-10, 1-4 ACC), 9 p.m. ET Wednesday (ACC Network)

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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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