Armando Bacot will have to play a different role against Virginia.
The Tar Heels have a major home game Saturday against the Cavaliers, who are a half-game ahead of them in the ACC standings at 3-1 and 9-5 overall compared to Carolina’s 10-4 record.
Coach Tony Bennett is one of the most disciplined mentors in the game with a special emphasis on his pack-line defense which is designed to keep the ball away from the basket as much as possible while also defending the 3-point line effectively.
So far this season, UVa is not up to Bennett’s standards before, during and since his 2019 national championship. The Wahoos have three players in low double figures and don’t shoot the ball that well. They also have a negative rebounding margin for the season.
So you think that means another double-double heyday for Carolina’s AB? Actually not because Bacot will be the primary focus of the Virginia defense, which will double-team or trap him every time he gets the ball.
The pack-line stations three players on the perimeter and they and the UNC wings will try to read each other’s every move. Bacot may have a slight size advantage but will find it difficult to make his patented pivots toward the basket or be forced into taking tough shots.
Bacot will need to be even more mobile in order to get the ball at the low block with a chance to score. Or he will have to reverse it back outside. He is a good passer, and Hubert Davis should have his guards positioned to catch and shoot or look for Bacot for a re-entry pass maybe somewhere above the rim for a lob.
This Tar Heel team is tougher to defend than recent seasons because it has so many weapons. AB leads in points and rebounds, and Caleb Love becomes a scoring force if his shot is going in early. RJ Davis, Brady Manek and Dawson Garcia, if he plays, also bring double digits to the game.
To beat the ‘Hoos in any season, opponents have to match their discipline. So if Bacot can’t catch the ball with a clear path to the basket, the perimeter guys will have to break open for an outlet pass and work to get the best shot from there.
How good THEY are Saturday will determine who wins.
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