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Indiana basketball: Ranking the top 15 team frontcourts for 2022-23

By Connor O’Keefe

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 27: Trayce Jackson-Davis #23 celebrates a play on court with Race Thompson #25 of the Indiana Hoosiers against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first half of the game at Williams Arena on February 27, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hoosiers defeated the Golden Gophers 84-79. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 27: Trayce Jackson-Davis #23 celebrates a play on court with Race Thompson #25 of the Indiana Hoosiers against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first half of the game at Williams Arena on February 27, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hoosiers defeated the Golden Gophers 84-79. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Indiana basketball
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 05: Brady Manek #45, Leaky Black #1 and Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrate during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 05, 2022 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Armando Bacot Jr., 6’11” 235lbs, Senior Forward/Center
2021-22 Stats: 16.3 pts/g, 13.1 reb/g, 1.7 blk/g, 29.1 PER

Pete Nance, 6’11” 230lbs, Grad Senior Forward
2021-22 Stats: 14.6 pts/g, 6.5 reb/g, 1.1 blk/g, 24.7 PER

Leaky Black, 6’9″ 205lbs, Grad Senior Forward
2021-22 Stats: 4.9 pts/g, 4.3 reb/g, 0.9 stl/g, 12.3 PER

The National Championship runner-up has the only frontcourt that I believe is better all-around than the Hoosiers. Armando Bacot Jr. will be up for the Naismith Player of the Year award and looks to bring his team back to the title game come April 2023. Bacot Jr. finished last season with the most double doubles (31) in a single season since Blake Griffin had 30 in 2008-09 and became the first Tar Heel since 1996-97 to average 13.0+ rebounds per game.

Adding fuel to the fire, Northwestern transfer, Pete Nance, coming to Raleigh gives second-year head coach Hubert Davis more to work with since they lost Bradey Manek, who saved UNC in many games last season. Nance brings an offensive presence as he led an underwhelming Wildcats’ offense and scored 20+ points in six games last season, including a 28-point and 14-rebound performance against Maryland in January.

Rounding out UNC’s frontcourt is Leaky Black, who may not seem like a lot when looking at his statistics, but actual game presence and impact, he was one of the most important players for the Tar Heels Final Four run as he anchored the defense and had eight games last season with multiple steals.

Comparing to the Indiana basketball frontcourt

Armando Bacot Jr. is the primary reason for this top ranking of the Tar Heels’ frontcourt. Bacot Jr. proved his worth and, in my opinion, probably earned himself an NBA roster spot if he wanted it after his performance last season. Bacot Jr. is the only big I would take over TJD in all of college basketball, and it’s because of everything he brings to the game, along with the now NCAA Tournament experience that the Hoosiers’ frontcourt just does not have. Along with the addition of Nance and return of Leaky Black, the Tar Heels have the best frontcourt in college basketball for the 2022-23 season.

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