CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 15: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels plays during a game against the Wofford Terriers on December 15, 2019 at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 68-67. North Carolina played their first regular season game in Carmichael Arena since 1986. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)

UNC Basketball forward Armando Bacot says he will return to Chapel Hill for his sophomore season following Wednesday’s loss to Syracuse

The 2019-20 college basketball season was a tough one for the North Carolina Tar Heels and it finally ended on Wednesday night with a loss to Syracuse in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. UNC finished the year at 14-19 overall and will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

There were a lot of factors in why UNC struggled this season but none bigger than the injuries.

Cole Anthony, Brandon Robinson, Rechon “Leaky” Black, Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot, Christian Keeling, Jeremiah Francis and Justin Pierce all missed games this season for the Tar Heels while Sterling Manley and Anthony Harris were lost for most if not all of the 2019-20 campaign. UNC just could never stay healthy and it cost them a few close games.

As the season comes to a close, it’s never too early to look forward to next season.

The Tar Heels will say goodbye to Robinson and it’s very likely that Anthony will leave after one year and head straight to the draft. But UNC does welcome in the No. 3 ranked recruiting class including three five-star players and two four-star players. On Wednesday following the loss, one player already made his decision on whether or not he will stay or return.

Bacot told reporters that he is indeed coming back to UNC for at least one more season:

Armando Bacot said he’s coming back next year. Unsure of whether Anthony will be back. — Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) March 12, 2020

The former five-star recruit had an up-and-down first season in Chapel Hill but showed flashes of improvement towards the end of the season. The 6-foot-10, 232-pound freshman finished the season averaging 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field.

Bacot’s 1.3 blocks per game also led UNC as he was a solid defender all year long.

There are some things that Bacot needs to work on going into next season including bulking up a bit and improving that post game. But if he takes a big jump this offseason and improves that game, he would make the Tar Heels’ a lot better in the post. Especially if Garrison Brooks returns and the two five-star post players UNC welcomes in next year.

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