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UNC Basketball Legend Set to Attend Exhibition Game at Memphis

A familiar face will be in the building for the UNC basketball squad's preseason showdown against the Tigers.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball center Armando Bacot
UNC basketball center Armando Bacot / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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For the first time since a Sweet 16 loss to Auburn on March 29, 2019, UNC basketball will play a game without Armando Bacot on its roster when the preseason No. 9 Tar Heels visit unranked Memphis for an exhibition bout at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPNU).

ALSO READ: Preseason Rankings Underscore Loaded Tar Heel Schedule

That said, Bacot will be on hand at the Tigers' FedExForum to watch the 2024-25 UNC basketball squad in action. The 24-year-old big man from Richmond, Va., advertised his plans via the following post on Monday night:

Granted, the former five-year UNC starter doesn't have to travel far to check in on his Tar Heels against the Tigers. No, Bacot is currently on the Memphis Grizzlies preseason roster, averaging 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per outing off the bench across their first three outings.

Fortunately for the Tar Heels and Bacot, who went undrafted in late June despite leaving Chapel Hill as the storied program's all-time leading rebounder and double-double producer, the Grizzlies don't play again until Friday night.

Meanwhile, following the contest against Penny Hardaway's Tigers, Hubert Davis' fourth UNC basketball team has one more exhibition game — versus Division II Johnson C. Smith in the Dean E. Smith Center at 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 27 (ACC Network Extra) — before hosting Elon in the regular season opener at 9 p.m. ET on Nov. 4 (ACC Network).

ALSO READ: UNC Pops By for In-State Prep Ahead of Announcement

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI 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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