Armando Bacot receives standing ovation after checking out for final time on Senior Night
For the final time, Armando Bacot played a game at the Dean Dome. The North Carolina star went through the Senior Night festivities on Tuesday against Notre Dame in the final home game of his career.
When he subbed out with 3:07 to play, the UNC faithful gave him a rounding ovation.
Hubert Davis did a full sub as North Carolina held a commanding 84-46 lead over Notre Dame. Bacot and RJ Davis checked out of the game in the final home matchup of the year – and it they all received a nearly 40-second ovation rom the crowd.
Bacot ended his night with 14 points and five rebounds as North Carolina handled Notre Dame with ease en route to the 84-51 victory. His final made field goal, though, came on a three-pointer – his second of the night and just his fourth of the 2023-24 season. That sent the crowd into a frenzy.
North Carolina improved to 24-6 overall and 16-3 in ACC play with Tuesday night’s victory, which clinched at least a share of the conference title. Bacot has been a crucial piece of the Tar Heels’ success this year, averaging 14 points and a team-high 10.3 rebounds along with 1.6 blocks after opting to use his COVID-19 waiver to return to Chapel Hill.
Bacot was part of the UNC team that made a run to the national championship two years ago, although last year was a disappointing follow-up. The Tar Heels went 20-13 overall and 11-9 in ACC play to miss out on the NCAA Tournament – and the postseason – entirely. This year, they flipped the script, and have a chance to lock up a 25th win with a victory against rival Duke this weekend.
To On3’s James Fletcher III, who projected UNC as a No. 2 seed in his latest Bracketology, Bacot and Davis helped fill the void left by Caleb Love. Now, the Tar Heels are looking at a return to the dance.
“The panic button was hit at North Carolina,” Fletcher told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. “What is the Hubert Davis era going to be? Is it going to be highs and lows? Or did we all get fooled by one good month of basketball? Because we were this close to having two straight non-NCAA Tournament seasons.
“This year, they go in and they change up the roster a little bit. Of course, Caleb Love ends up hitting the exit door, and RJ Davis and Armando Bacot, there were I think some questions from people around the country. Can that duo really take you to the level that North Carolina should be at given the fact that they just hadn’t in the last few years? Well this year they really have.”