Unexpected Confession: UNC star says am a ‘die hard’ Duke basketball fan growing up
The ongoing tales stemming from the Duke-North Carolina basketball rivalry never fail to captivate the two sets of fans.
Just a few months after concluding his career at Chapel Hill and gearing up for the NBA Summer League, where he will share the court with Blue Devils’ forward Kyle Filipowski, Tar Heels’ standout Armando Bacot made a surprising revelation – he was actually a fervent Duke basketball fan in his youth.
In a recent episode of the Run Your Race podcast hosted by former UNC player Theo Pinson, Bacot openly confessed his childhood allegiance to the Blue Devils, making his decision to commit to Carolina all the more astonishing.
Despite his initial reservations, Bacot excelled during his five-year stint in Chapel Hill, posting impressive averages of 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. His stellar performances earned him recognition as a two-time Third Team All-American and two-time First Team All-ACC honoree.
Bacot shared that he attended Duke basketball camps as a youngster and looked up to players like Jahlil Okafor, a key figure in the 2015 national championship-winning team and the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, along with Jabari Parker.
“I would never admit it, but I’ll admit it now,” he joked. “I’m not in college now.”
“I grew up a Duke fan. Hated Carolina.”
“I grew up a Duke fan. I loved Jahlil Okafor, Jabari Parker…I hated Carolina.”
– Armando Bacot
UNC wasn’t always Bacot’s first choice 😮 pic.twitter.com/LSm95N2OP9
— Tidal League (@TidalLeague) July 2, 2024
In the 2019 recruiting class, Duke secured Vernon Carey Jr., who was rated as the sixth-best prospect in the nation, whereas Bacot was ranked at No. 27. Despite their disparate rankings, the Virginia native revealed that he and Carey Jr. were close friends during their high school years.
Following a single season at Duke, Carey Jr. declared for the NBA Draft and was ultimately chosen as the 32nd overall pick.
Bacot expressed that it was a challenge for him to fully embrace his commitment to Carolina due to his previous strong ties to Duke.
“I was a die-hard Duke fan, so I HATED Carolina. [UNC fans] are going to tear me up for this.”
Bacot concluded his college career with a 6-5 record against Duke, securing a noteworthy victory in their sole meeting during the 2021 Final Four. Unfortunately, the Tar Heels fell short in the National Championship against Kansas that year after squandering a significant 15-point halftime lead, which marked the largest halftime lead lost in championship history.
Reflecting on his college choice, Bacot remarked, “I simply chose Carolina. It was surreal because I used to dislike Carolina.”
Theo Pinson recounted witnessing Austin Rivers’ unforgettable buzzer-beater for Duke against North Carolina at the Dean Smith Center, a moment he celebrated despite being courted by the Tar Heels.
In closing the podcast segment, Bacot mentioned that he no longer harbors strong negative feelings toward Duke.
This marks the conclusion of an eventful chapter in the Duke-North Carolina rivalry, setting the stage for another intense season of basketball as both renowned programs gear up amid high expectations in Tobacco Road.
