On Wednesday, big man Armando Bacot informed Stadium that he will remain with the Tar Heels for a fifth season.

Bacot, who is among the 15 finalists for the Wooden Honor, averaged 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds this season. After failing to make the NCAA tournament field for the first time since 2010, the Tar Heels (20-13) decided not to participate in the NIT.

“I’m using my last year of eligibility.” Bacot told Stadium. “I felt it was the right decision for my future. … The primary reason I am coming back is because I don’t want to leave North Carolina this way. But I also know I need to improve and feel like this is the best place to do that.”

The 6-foot-11 Bacot leads North Carolina in career rebounds, double-doubles, and games with double-digit rebounds. In his four seasons, he has averaged 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds.

This year, he attended the festivities of North Carolina’s Senior Night. He has a fifth year of qualification as a result of the waiver the NCAA conceded because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Throughout the season, ankle injuries hampered the AP third-team All-America selection.

The decision to return by Bacot, who led North Carolina to a runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament the previous year, was a major factor in the Tar Heels’ high ranking in the Associated Press’ preseason poll. In the 2021-22 season, he averaged 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds and became the first player to ever record six double-doubles in a single NCAA tournament.