Carolina’s sluggish start has frustrated fans eager for the type of dominance shown last March. Brady Manek’s departure and replacement by Pete Nance isn’t a like-for-like swap, and the Tar Heels are learning to account for each other on the floor. Armando Bacot, blessed with post operating room thanks to Manek’s range and quick trigger, now finds himself slightly more crowded. It has affected his rebounding numbers.
Readers will remember the magical run Bacot went on during last year’s tournament run: six double-doubles (an NCAA record) and 16.5 rebounds per game, including 15 against Kansas on one wheel.