11:42 p.m. ET
Pete Thamel ESPN
NEW ORLEANS — North Carolina star Armando Bacot injured his right ankle in the second half of Saturday night’s Final Four matchup with Duke — but was able to return when the No. 8 Tar Heels squeezed past rival Blue Devils 81. 77 to earn a spot in Monday’s national championship game.
Bacot appeared to roll the ankle at 5:18 in the game and spent more than a minute on the floor in the baseline area behind the basket. He hobbled to the back of the bench with the help of two UNC reserves, where he sat briefly.
Bacot then exited the bench area and appeared to be ushered into the locker room before returning and checking back into the game at 4:36 to play.
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His effectiveness seemed limited during this stretch as he winced and limped his way through the final minutes until fouling with 46.7 seconds left and leading UNC 75-74.
“I know it’s going to hurt and the next 24 and 48 hours in terms of treatment are going to be tremendous,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said of Bacot’s injury. “Right now I don’t think there is a player who isn’t injured a bit.”
Bacot is UNC’s top post player and one of the country’s elite rebounders. He went into the game as the team leader averaging 12.8 rebounds and finished the semifinals with 21 rebounds and 11 points.
He’s also perhaps the Tar Heels’ most essential player, given the limited options behind him up front.
UNC will face No. 1 Kansas in Monday’s title game, where Bacot’s health will certainly play a big role.
“I can tell you, I can read this page, he’s going to play Monday night,” Davis said, joking that Bacot would play even if he was just standing on the lane.