What a difference this Carolina team could be this year if Bacot developed a no nonsense mean streak

[IDUNK4HEELS]

Yes I realize a Tyler Hansbrough, J R Reid, Bryce Johnson and even a Mitch Kupchak are hard to find anymore but what a terror Bacot could be if he developed a nasty mean steak where he felt deep in his gut that every defensive rebound belonged to him and that every offensive rebound meant a rim smashing dunk instead of a weak follow up or tip.

Armando is already a elite rebounder but again what a difference it would mean to the team responding to last season’s surprising below Carolina’s average play if he just felt this was his very last opportunity to prove his critics wrong and to let his play speak for itself…

 

[Heels5150]

Great points. I have said similar things in the past and people get bent out of shape about it. Bacot has to start being dominant in which we need a basket he can go down and get you one. Nobody can dispute Armando’s consistency and work ethic during a game. Also to be fair Bacot gets fouled on so many of his attempts and there is no call. He shoots a lot of free throws but he could easily be shooting 30% more a season by fouls that are not called and that is being conservative. Bacot needs to develop go to moves that can be relied upon to score. His coordination and footwork are still extremely awkward and this going into his fifth season. Also even in the summer pick up game he still misses way too many shots right at the basket. Sean May, Tyler Zeller, Psycho T are players that come to mind that you know that you could count on to get you a basket when you needed one. I would like for Bacot also to incorporate a CONTROLLED mean streak.

 

[Archer2]

It isn’t in his DNA.

 

[superstar57]

Wouldn't work, and as much as we make Bacot to be a legend at UNC. He lacks some skills to be that mean to nonsense guy. Tyler, Reid, and Kupchak are all better players than Bacot. If any of those guys needed to get a bucket they would. Bryce Johnson was one of the most athletic bigs we ever had.

If Bacot turned into that guy, I don't think he could back it up with his play. Bacot is a solid fundamental tree stump, and that has value as long as he plays with in himself.

Mean streak draws to much attention that I don't know if Bacot can back up.

 

[JimmyinVA]

It isn’t in his DNA.

yep, cased closed. smart player, good hands, coachable, good size, but no mean streak. i wonder what would happen if he got physically assaulted as henderson mugged tyler. would that piss him off and transform his innate nice guy personality? if it did he might become just as good, hansbro had no skills or talents that bacot lacks, just a good ole fashion junkyard dog mean streak.

 

[DSouthr]

Yeah, my biggest knock on Bacot is that he could play much more aggressively than he does. With his size, when he gets a defender's feet inside the block charge circle you have to attack right thru the defender, no need for the fakes and soft fade always or gentile lay in, attack send a message that there is no soft here! I believe the NBA heads would turn to see that!

 

[dtodd4475]

The area I am hoping he shows growth in is recognizing the next pass quicker, especially out of doubles, but really just in general.

As to the NBA aspirations I think that skill along with improved ability to move laterally and guard on switches would garner more NBA GM eyes rather then the power boost. There is also some inate/DNA feel to those skills, his league prospects are slim. In college, for next year, he certainly can continue to bang the glass and muscle effectively. It is his strength for sure.

 

[ChiShankCity]

I don't see Bacot as an absurdly skilled dude so I don't know if a "mean streak" would mean a whole lot for him.

He really isn't on the same planet as Brice in terms of offensive skillset. Brice really had a pretty complete package as an offensive player, plus was one of the bouncier big guys that I've seen play at UNC. Bacot isn't even on the same level as Tyler Hansbrough offensively either. Tyler may have looked awkward, but he had legitimate range out to 17-18 feet. He developed a turnaround counter when teams would lock in on his left shoulder hook, or his up and under.

Hansbrough was also a plus FT shooter for a big from day 1 (74%) and by year 4, became an elite FT shooter (84%). Brice was a 78% FT shooter during his awesome senior year. Bacot isn't that. He's been 65%, 66%, 67%, 67% in four years.

Bacot's a below the rim guy who has below average touch and I don't think his has particularly quick feet.

He's more productive than he is dominant. I don't think a "mean streak" has much to do with it. He just isn't as good as Tyler or Brice.

 

[Archer2]

Bacot doesn’t need to dramatically change his game, he brings a consistent double-double to the team. If he establishes inside position strongly, Cadeau will reward him. The same applies to running the floor hard, players that do will be rewarded. I predict Mando will face significantly less double teams due to better perimeter shooting and a PG that can get penetration and move the defense. Everyone will benefit.

 

[ChiShankCity]

Bacot doesn’t need to dramatically change his game, he brings a consistent double-double to the team. If he establishes inside position strongly, Cadeau will reward him. The same applies to running the floor hard, players that do will be rewarded. I predict Mando will face significantly less double teams due to better perimeter shooting and a PG that can get penetration and move the defense. Everyone will benefit.

Generally, I feel we'll be ok if Bacot is Bacot. The last two years, we weren't all that good minus the last 1/3 of the season two years ago. We weren't any good his sophomore season but not really his fault. We weren't playing our best players (Garrison Brooks) and that isn't Bacot's fault.

Hopefully he has a better group around him. Bacot isn't a Tyler Hansbrough where you can put 4 somewhat unimpressive guys around him and Tyler might be good enough to give you a shot to still win any CBB game. But that's fine. Dudes like Tyler Hansbrough are really rare.

 

[IDUNK4HEELS]

Yeah, my biggest knock on Bacot is that he could play much more aggressively than he does. With his size, when he gets a defender's feet inside the block charge circle you have to attack right thru the defender, no need for the fakes and soft fade always or gentile lay in, attack send a message that there is no soft here! I believe the NBA heads would turn to see that!

I totally agree DSouthr with your comments and observations that Bacot with his size and talent should be more aggressive in the blocks and stop with as you say gentle lay ins. Dunk everything and even if you do not score there is a great chance he would be fouled. That’s the one thing I enjoyed about Hansbrough he would go thru a brick wall if he needed to and he was great from the free throw line.

I disagree that being more aggressive is not in Armando’s DNA 🧬 he just needs to be selfish and decide this is my last ride at Carolina and I will make this a season that people will remember me for leaving everything I have on the court…

 

[DSouthr]

The area I am hoping he shows growth in is recognizing the next pass quicker, especially out of doubles, but really just in general.

As to the NBA aspirations I think that skill along with improved ability to move laterally and guard on switches would garner more NBA GM eyes rather then the power boost. There is also some inate/DNA feel to those skills, his league prospects are slim. In college, for next year, he certainly can continue to bang the glass and muscle effectively. It is his strength for sure.

You are so right Todd, he absolutely does need to stop occupying the ball for so long, all that twisting & turning and clumsy drives need to stop. Either go directly in to a strong finishing move or quickly kick it back out and reposition, most often the ball would go directly back to him for a much easier finish. He makes things harder on himself than he has to for sure.

 

[DSouthr]

I totally agree DSouthr with your comments and observations that Bacot with his size and talent should be more aggressive in the blocks and stop with as you say gentle lay ins. Dunk everything and even if you do not score there is a great chance he would be fouled. That’s the one thing I enjoyed about Hansbrough he would go thru a brick wall if he needed to and he was great from the free throw line.

I disagree that being more aggressive is not in Armando’s DNA 🧬 he just needs to be selfish and decide this is my last ride at Carolina and I will make this a season that people will remember me for leaving everything I have on the court…

We have not seen it a lot but there have been a few occasions when Bacot has got pissed and would play like he was pissed for a 2 or 3 minute span and he was fun to watch in those brief runs. With that body, really there is not but 2 or 3 big men in the college game that could give him much of a fight when he decides to use that huge frame and strength to take what he wants.

And Hansbourgh, one of my favorite moments in sports was watching Tyler climb a HUGE Kenny George mountain and finish right thru that big huge mountain of a man!