Ralph Sampson is one of the best college basketball players to ever come through the ACC.

He starred at UVA from 1979-1983 – winning the 1980 ACC Rookie of the Year, being named ACC Player of the Year three times (1981-1983) and National POTY three times (1981-1983). Ralph and his Cavalier teammates made the NCAA Tournament all four years, but never advanced further than the Final Four.

Sampson continued to enjoy a strong NBA career, being named an All-Star four times after the Houston Rockets took him first overall in the 1983 NBA Draft. Sampson never won an NBA Finals, making him arguably one of the greatest players to never win a title.

Another ACC basketball great – who’s currently taking the court by storm – is UNC center Armando Bacot. He could’ve gone pro after North Carolina’s unexpected run to the 2022 National Championship game, but came back to help his teammates finish the job.

Last year didn’t work out, but look at what Bacot’s done during his five years in Chapel Hill. He’s started all but one game over his five seasons, averaging a double-double (13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds per game). He now holds UNC’s all-time rebounds and double-double record.

Not only does Bacot own North Carolina’s double-double record, he’s also been climbing up the ACC list.

In Friday’s 72-65 win over Pitt, Bacot tied Sampson with his 84th career double-double.

There’s a very solid chance Bacot passes Sampson in tonight’s ACC Championship Game, but he’ll have to go through the tank that is DJ Burns to do so.

If Bacot is able to break a tie with Sampson, it would be his first double-double against NC State this year. Bacot was limited to just nine points and five rebounds on Jan. 10 in Raleigh, while he scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds on March 2 in Chapel Hill.

Bacot will be under a close watch eye through the NCAA Tournament, as he needs just four more to pass Tim Duncan for most in ACC history.

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Story originally appeared on Tarheels Wire