All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Great Laughs at Duke Fans' Peculiar Obsession

By helping inflict well-documented agony on Blue Devils, UNC basketball gem Armando Bacot may trigger some unpleasant memories.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball center Armando Bacot versus Duke
UNC basketball center Armando Bacot versus Duke / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
In this story:

Fifth-year players are practically everywhere. They have been ever since the NCAA decided not to count the truncated 2020-21 season against anyone's eligibility. Even so, 2019-2024 UNC basketball big man Armando Bacot attracted incessant jokes from nearby fanbases.

ALSO READ: UNC Head Coach Rolls Out First 2024-25 Starting Lineup

One possible explanation is that he was the full-time UNC basketball starting center for five years and drew everlasting fame in the world-famous UNC-Duke basketball rivalry via his picture-perfect grinning dunk in the Tar Heels' March 2022 road win over the Blue Devils in Mike Krzyzewski's final home game.

That's not to mention the Final Four knockout to Krzyzewski's career a few weeks later and the all-time UNC rebounder's 2-0 mark against Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils as a fifth-year Tar Heel last season. On that note, remember that Bacot's decorated college career spanned four head coaches between the archrivals in Scheyer, Coach K, Roy Williams, and Hubert Davis.

Moreover, the 24-year-old Bacot, now on the Memphis Grizzlies' preseason roster after going undrafted in June, isn't shy when it comes to passionately supporting his alma mater.

Adding it all up, it's no surprise that Bacot decided to check in with Hubert Davis' Tar Heels in Memphis' FedExForum ahead of their 84-76 exhibition victory over Penny Hardaway's Tigers in the St. Jude Tip Off Classic. And it was only a matter of time before a popular Duke fan account chimed in on the UNC basketball celebrity's presence with some hypothetical about 2014-18 Blue Devil treasure Grayson Allen:

So, Bacot broke it down for that "Blue Devils" account by noting the mere three miles that separated him from the visiting Tar Heels while also pointing out Duke basketball faithful's hilariously perplexing "obsession" over his journey and general whereabouts:

Yes, Bacot hung out with the 2024-25 UNC basketball players and coaches during shootaround.

Plus, perhaps he further disturbed some Duke fans by sticking around and watching one of his former teammates, junior guard Seth Trimble, pour in an electrifying 33 points for the preseason No. 9 Tar Heels against the Memphis Tigers while sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau tallied a turbo-charged double-double with 11 points and 13 assists.

ALSO READ: Several More 2024-25 Tar Heel Schedule Updates

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI 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