Armando Bacot on playing Saint Peter's in 2022: 'That was the worst team we played all year'

Saint Peter’s took the college basketball world by storm in the 2022 NCAA Tournament before running into Armando Bacot and North Carolina in the Elite 8. Up until that point, the Peacocks had pulled off huge upsets against Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue as a No. 15 seed.

The magical run for the Peacocks came to an end in the Elite 8 as they suffered a blowout loss to North Carolina in a game that got out of hand early. Bacot, who had an incredibly productive career during his time at North Carolina, recently spoke with the Run Your Race podcast about the 2022 NCAA Tournament and that Saint Peter’s team.

“Before we played UCLA, Purdue and Saint Peter’s were playing on that court. So I’m praying to God like, ‘Damn, I need Saint Peter’s to win,'” Armando Bacot recalled.

Saint Peter’s did, knocking off the Boilermakers 67-64 to advance to the Elite 8. After that game, Bacot insists he knew North Carolina was headed to the Final 4.

“They somehow pulled it out. I’m celebrating in the tunnel before the game, like, ‘We ain’t losing this game. We going to that Final Four,'” Bacot said.

Bacot was right as UNC jumped out to a 27-9 lead against Saint Peter’s and was in control throughout the game. North Carolina ended up cruising to a 69-49 victory to advance to the Final 4 and set up a huge showdown with Duke.

“We played Saint Peter’s, and man, that was the worst team we played all year. Saint Peter’s was the worst team. It made no [sense],” Bacot said. “I don’t know how they beat Kentucky. I don’t know how they beat Purdue. Like it made no sense because that was the worst team we played all year. … Right from the jump. I had like 20 and 20 and ended up winning the Regional MVP and all of that. So that was all good.”

Armando Bacot had 20 points and 22 boards against Saint Peter’s as the Peacocks had no answer for him in the paint.

North Carolina went on to beat Duke, too, spoiling Mike Krzyzewski’s final game as the Blue Devils’ coach. However, UNC came up short against Kansas in the national championship game, falling 72-69.

Bacot and North Carolina had a down year in 2022-23, failing to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels bounced back and earned a No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, before falling to Alabama in the Sweet 16.