WATCH: UNC star Armando Bacot reveals “the worst team” they played throughout the 2021-2022 season
On July 2, Armando Bacot appeared on fellow former UNC star Theo Pinson's Run Your Race podcast as he reflected on his Tar Heels career. One of the topics they discussed was UNC's run to the national championship game in the 2021-22 season.
During their conversation, Bacot revealed the worst team his North Carolina team played during that March Madness run.
"Saint Peter's was playing on the course. Im praying to god like, d*mn, I need St. Peter's to win. They somehow pulled it out. I'm celebrating in the g*dd*mn tunnel before the game. I'm like we ain't losing this game now, we're going to that Final Four," Armando said.
"So then we play St. Peter's and, man, that was the worst team we played all year. I don't know how they beat Kentucky, I don't know how they beat Purdue. It made no sense. That was the worst team we played all year," he added.
The Saint Peter’s Peacocks had been on a roll before they met UNC in the Elite Eight of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. As a number 15 seed, they had defeated the 2nd and 3rd-seeded Kentucky (85–79 OT) and Purdue (67–64) alongside 7th-seeded Murray State (70–60), becoming the first 15th-seeded roster to enter the Elite Eight.
However, their fairytale run ended against the Tar Heels as they lost, 69-49. The Peacocks shot a dismal 30% from the field. Armando Bacot dropped 20 points and 22 rebounds and was named the East Region's Most Outstanding Player.
Bacot and Tar Heels then ruined Mike Krzyzewski’s last game as the Duke Blue Devils’ head coach, winning 81-77 in the Final Four as Bacot garnered 21 rebounds.
However, Bacot and the Tar Heels fell short in the title game, losing 72-69 to Kansas.
Armando Bacot is fighting for an NBA contract
After going undrafted this year, Armando Bacot signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz. Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year minimum salary deals that can be turned into a two-way or standard minimum deal near the start of the season.
Bacot is now hoping to earn a regular NBA contract. The best way to do that is to impress in Summer League games. After missing the Jazz's first game, Bacot played in the team's second contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While he only played seven minutes in the game, he added four points, five rebounds and one block.
While his performance outshined second-round pick Kyle Filipowski’s numbers (four points, five rebounds in 20 minutes), Armando Bacot still has to fight for a spot in the NBA. He did not play in last night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, with the Vegas Summer League on the horizon, Bacot will have at least four more opportunities to impress.