Armando Bacot is preparing to play in Monday’s national championship game despite rolling his ankle late in Saturday’s Final Four victory over Duke.
While North Carolina’s junior clearly doesn’t want to miss the major moment, it looks like he’s taking the court at less than 100 percent.
Video from the locker room area shows Bacot favoring his leg while walking a big gingerly.
And here comes the big fella… pic.twitter.com/1HGmOgjy7W
— Three Man Weave (@3MW_CBB) April 5, 2022
He also jogged onto the court with a noticeable limp.
Armando Bacot jogging out with a little bit of a limp. Going to tough it out in the Natty! pic.twitter.com/SrCju26PvJ
— Terrence Oglesby (@CoachTO22) April 5, 2022
On Sunday, North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis told reporters that X-rays came back negative. Bacot said it’d take far more to take him out of commission for the national championship.
“My right leg would have to be cut off for me not to play,” Bacot said Sunday, per Brian Hamilton of The Athletic.
Armando Bacot: “My right leg would have to be cut off for me not to play.”
— Brian Hamilton (@_Brian_Hamilton) April 3, 2022
Bacot has posted a double-double in each of North Carolina’s five NCAA tournament victories and has grabbed more than 20 rebounds in each of the last two games. He’s essential to the No. 8 seed’s chances of knocking off the top-seeded Jayhawks, but it’s unclear how much — and at what level — he’ll be able to play Monday night.
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