No Joke, This Really is Bacot's Final Season in Chapel Hill
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CHAPEL HILL – Hubert Davis inadvertently, or maybe not, made a joke last week during his annual summer press conference at the Smith Center.
Truth be told, much surrounding North Carolina big man Armando Bacot often leads to chuckles and laughter. Bacot has quite a sense of humor and a sincere willingness to share it with the media.
So, when the topic of the Tar Heels’ all-time leading rebounder came up midway through the presser, Davis responded with a bit of comedy that then mushroomed into more.
“This is his last year,” Davis said, realizing how funny that sounded given Bacot returning to UNC was a topic in each of the previous two offseasons as well. Now, however, he has only one season left regardless. This will be his Covid year; a fifth and final campaign. So, when Davis made that subtle remark, laugher erupted in the press room, followed by:
“Are we sure about that,” said a media member (laughter).
“As of now,” said Davis (laughter).
“Tweet that out,” said a media member.
“Breaking news,” said a media member (laughter).
Davis jokingly repeated the breaking news part while cracking up laughing before going into a more typical response.
This is Bacot’s last summer in Chapel Hill as a Tar Heel, and it appears the focus to make the most of his last go-around has anchored the Virginia native to campus for most of the last couple of months.
Did he have a real decision to make after UNC’s disappointing 20-13 season concluded?
Sources very close to the situation indicated to THI late in the season Bacot would be back without a doubt, which we reported, and he hinted at probably returning after the loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament ending Carolina’s season.
But he and Davis still had to discuss things, and the topics were certainly broad. But it’s also nothing new to them. They’ve been communicating in some capacity for a third of Bacot’s life.
“Conversation and communication with Armando has been straight forward and direct has been the same since I first saw him play at 15 years old,” said Davis, who was the lead recruiter when UNC courted Bacot in high school.
More on those conversations:
“After this year (past season was) over, and Armando has specifically for him experienced the highs and lows, and what does he want his last year to look like,” Davis said, relaying what was discussed. “What does he want to remember when he leaves this place? And we’ve had a lot of talks about that.
“And the way that Armando has grown as a player, but more as an individual and as a leader, I think that has really impressed me the most about him. I’m proud of a lot by him.”
Davis didn’t mention anything about Bacot’s offensive game; moves around the basket, extending his jump shot, being more efficient at the free throw line, or anything like that. Bacot doesn't lack for smart, a reason he's been in the Kenan-Flagler Business School. He knows what must be accomplished this offseason.
In spite of public opinion, his offensive game grew before last season. Bacot displayed improved moves within 12 feet of the basket, especially commencing from the baseline, before opponents sold out entirely to double-team starting last January. It was at that point UNC’s offense really started sputtering, and Bacot didn’t reach the 20-point mark once following a win over NC State on January 21.
This is a huge summer for Bacot, who makes no bones about wanting his jersey hanging in the rafters of the Smith Center, and who also looks to use this coming season as a bridge to the NBA.
“We’ve had a number of conversations that this year is huge for him, even personally,” Davis said. “He has to do everything he needs to do to put himself in the position where he can be the best that he can be.
“I’m really excited to see that ‘I have only one year left’ mentality out there on the floor.”
Because that’s all Bacot has, so alert the media, this is it for him.