All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Center Armando Bacot Racking Up Early Honors

Nobody had a more impressive first week of the season than UNC basketball's Armando Bacot.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball center Armando Bacot (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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Armando Bacot is off to a dominant start to his fifth UNC basketball campaign. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center is averaging 23.5 points and 16.5 points through the now-No. 20 Tar Heels' first two games: an 86-70 home win over Radford last Monday night and Friday night's 90-68 victory over Lehigh in the Dean E. Smith Center.

Against Lehigh, the 23-year-old Bacot recorded his seventh 20-rebound game at the collegiate level (third 20-rebound, 20-point performance) while notching his UNC basketball record 70th double-double.

And on Monday, he became the season's first ACC Player of the Week, the seventh time Bacot has earned that award with the Tar Heels (third in program history behind Antawn Jamison's 12 and Tyler Hansbrough's 10).

He also picked up the honor of being the Lute Olson National Player of the Week.

Bacot's impact on the court has been nothing short of integral. He's averaged 23.5 points and 16.5 rebounds per game, shooting 60.0 percent from the field and 91.7 percent at the foul line (a marked improvement from his 66.5 percent last season).

As Hubert Davis' third UNC team looks ahead to the rest of its season, Bacot's leadership and on-court excellence provide a solid foundation for success.

The Tar Heels next welcome UC Riverside to Chapel Hill for an 8 p.m. ET matchup on Friday before heading to the Bahamas to play three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament next week.

Armando Bacot May Reach No. 2 on All-Time UNC Scoring List

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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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