Armando Bacot explains how badly he wanted to win final home game vs. Duke

Armando Bacot didn’t exactly have a storybook final season at North Carolina, and his final home game on Saturday punctuated that.

The Tar Heels were defeated by Duke 62-57, as the Blue Devils secured a season sweep and delivered a blow to UNC’s NCAA Tournament chances. Now fighting for their lives in the upcoming ACC Tournament, North Carolina needs a borderline miracle.

But Saturday, the pain was still fresh on Bacot’s mind, who explained how bad he wanted to win his final game in front of the home crowd in Chapel Hill.

“I wanted it terribly,” a demoralized Bacot stated. “Last game, home game versus Duke.”

Bacot trailed off, followed by silence. It’s evident he’s hurting, and feeling the weight of unmatched expectations for his team throughout the 2022-2023 season.

Nevertheless, North Carolina made a miraculous run last season on Armando Bacot’s back, and it could be setting up for one this week. Time will tell, but the Tar Heels have their work cut out for them.

Hubert Davis focused on ACC Tournament, shoots down NCAA Tournament question following Duke loss

Meanwhile, Hubert Davis pressed his hand against his face for much of his postgame press conference after losing to Duke 62-57 for the second time this season. He was short with reporters and rightfully dejected following a make-or-break NCAA Tournament resume game for North Carolina.

Now, the narrative staring UNC in the face is that they now have to win the ACC Tournament, or it’s almost impossible for them to break the field of 68. 

“I’m not a narrative guy. All I know was that on Wednesday at 7 p.m., we play the winner of Boston College and Louisville,” Davis said postgame. “Our full attention is on that game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.”

With the loss, the Tar Heels move down from the ‘first four out’ line to the ‘next four out’ line alongside Michigan, Vanderbilt and Oregon in the latest update of Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology. Meanwhile, Duke is sitting comforatbly inside the bubble as a six-seed in the East region (New York). 

Carolina was doing all the could to keep themselves inside the bubble over the last couple weeks. After losing five of six, the Tar Heels won their next three games before falling to Duke. They finished the regular season with one Quad 1 victory in 10 tries — and they’re only this close to the bubble because of the name on their chests. Any other team wouldn’t be considered.

With UNC awaiting the winner of the Eagles and Cardinals, a win in the ACC Tournament’s second round over either opponent would pit them against the two-seeded Virginia Cavaliers — a team Carolina beat at the end of February. From there, No. 3 seed Clemson would be the assumed semifinal opponent — and UNC beat them last month, too. 

To say North Carolina doesn’t have a chance to win the ACC Tournament would be a dangerous statement. Nobody expected Hubert Davis’s group to make the NCAA Championship game last season, so winning the conference tournament is a small task compared to what they did in 2022. 

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article.