Anyone who watched North Carolina play Kansas in the national championship Monday night could see big man Armando Bacot was less than 100 percent.
He sprained his ankle just two days prior against Duke, and the injury limited his usual movement and effectiveness. But it was a game UNC desperately needed his size and skill, so he gutted it out and played through the injury. And what a performance it was.
With one good leg, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer and rebounder basically matched his season averages, with team-highs of 15 points and 15 rebounds, including six offensive boards. He was instrumental in UNC building its huge lead and really the only answer they had to Kansas big man David McCormack.
UNC bigs putting on a CLINIC
Bacot: 12 PTS | 10 REB
Manek: 9 PTS | 4 REBTarheels up 40-25 at half 😳 pic.twitter.com/763AzRQYAk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 5, 2022
But while Bacot’s impact was clear on the court, it was felt just as much when he was off the court. After he re-injured his ankle and had to leave the game with 38 seconds left, Kansas attacked the mismatch with McCormack and got an easy two points to go up three. The Jayhawks held on for the win.
Shoutout to Armando Bacot
Gave it his all, even through injury 🙏 pic.twitter.com/AV6e81OCc8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 5, 2022
Bacot was a true warrior Monday night and left it all out on the court. He played about as well as anyone could have expected. That only makes it all the more difficult not to wonder how much differently this game would’ve turned out had he been healthy.
