Armando Bacot returning for fifth year

The past week or so has been filled with bad news for the UNC basketball program, losing four players to the transfer portal including Puff Johnson on Wednesday.

But a few hours after Johnson made his decision, the program got some good news.

Center Armando Bacot is returning for a fifth and final year in Chapel Hill per Jeff Goodman. Bacot is making the decision to use that fifth year of eligibility from the COVID year to return and hopefully turn things around with the Tar Heels program.

Bacot cited that it was the best decision for his future to return:

BREAKING: North Carolina big man Armando Bacot is returning to Chapel Hill for another season, he tells @Stadium.

“I’m using my last year of eligibility.” Bacot said. “I felt it was the right decision for my future.”

Bacot averaged 15.9 points and 10.4 boards.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 22, 2023

As a senior, Bacot averaged a double-double with 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as one of the best players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Bacot has been hampered with injuries dating back to the 2022 National Championship Game when he hurt his ankle.

He hurt his shoulder in a loss at Indiana, then missed almost all of the first meeting against Virginia with an ankle injury. He then re-hurt that ankle in the ACC Tournament win over Boston College.

Over the four years, he’s improved each year as one of the best big men in the country the past two seasons.

With the NIL being a big deal for Bacot in the past, we have to imagine it played a significant role. Either way, North Carolina is getting a big piece back for the 2023-24 season, which is a crucial one for Hubert Davis.

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