North Carolina coach Hubert Davis was clear and firm when discussing Armando Bacot’s ACC Player of the Year candidacy on Friday afternoon.

“It’s not even close,” Davis told reporters “Plain and simple. Period. The end.”

Setting Davis’ — obvious and understandable — bias aside, Bacot is having a sensational season. He’s averaging 16.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 64.2 percent from the floor.

Bacot has become North Carolina’s most consistent player. Buried on the depth chart the last two seasons due to other bigs like Day’Ron Sharpe, Walker Kessler and Garrison Brooks, Bacot has seamlessly stepped into a starring role.

His most recent game was one for the history books. He scored 29 points and grabbed 21 rebounds — both career highs — as the Tar Heels blew out Virginia in Chapel Hill.

As for the rest of the ACC, there’s few candidates who can stand up to Bacot’s résumé. Duke forward Paolo Banchero is currently KenPom’s leader for ACC Player of the Year

, with Bacot following close behind. Wake Forest’s Alondes Williams, Virginia Tech’s Keve Aluma and Duke Wendell Moore Jr. round out the top 5.

North Carolina likely needs to keep up with Duke in the standings in order for Bacot to eventually take home the award. So far, so good — both the Blue Devils and Tar Heels are 3-1 in ACC play.

UNC will be in action again on Saturday vs. Virginia Tech.