For years, matchups between North Carolina and Virginia have been a clash of basketball philosophies. Under Tony Bennett, the Cavaliers thrived on a methodical pace and suffocating defense-an approach that often threw a wrench into the Tar Heels' up-tempo style, first under Roy Williams and now Hubert Davis. Even when UNC came out on top, it was rarely a shootout; more often, it was a grind-it-out affair, with every possession feeling like a chess match.
But this season, there’s a new era underway in Charlottesville. Bennett stepped away before the season, and after a rocky interim stint from Ron Sanchez, UVA brought in Ryan Odom.
Yes, that Ryan Odom-the architect of UMBC’s historic upset of Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. And so far, the hire looks like a home run.
The Cavaliers are 16-2 and ranked No. 14 in the country, and now it’s UNC’s turn to see what this revamped Virginia squad is all about.
Don’t expect a complete stylistic overhaul, though. Odom’s team might not be as glacial as Bennett’s slowest groups, but this isn’t a track meet either.
According to KenPom, Virginia ranks 288th in Adjusted Tempo-still in the bottom third of Division I. For context, North Carolina checks in at 171st, so while the Tar Heels play faster, this isn’t exactly a contrast between the Showtime Lakers and the Bad Boys Pistons.
It’s more like a subtle shift in gears.
Defensively, Virginia hasn’t lost its edge. They’re currently 17th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency and are holding opponents to just 38.1% shooting from the field-a number that puts them among the nation’s elite.
Inside the arc, they’re even stingier, allowing just 43.6% shooting. A big part of that interior dominance comes from freshman big man Johann Grünloh, who’s swatting 2.5 shots per game.
As a team, Virginia averages 6.4 blocks per contest, and they’ve got a stable of long, physical forwards they can rotate to challenge shots and control the paint.
Where you’ll really notice the shift is on the offensive end. This team is scoring-a lot.
The Cavaliers are putting up 84.0 points per game, a number that would’ve been unthinkable in the Bennett years. To put it in perspective, the last time a UVA team averaged more than 80 points was the 2000-01 season.
Even the 2019 national title squad didn’t crack 70 per game.
So what’s changed? For one, they’re still shooting efficiently, but now they’re also crashing the offensive glass with purpose.
Virginia is averaging 14.2 offensive rebounds per game, one of the best marks in the country. That’s a lot of second-chance opportunities, and it’s one of the reasons their scoring has taken such a leap.
Leading the way is Belgian forward Thijs De Ridder, who’s averaging 16.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He’s a force on the offensive boards, pulling down over two a game on that end alone.
Malik Thomas and Chance Mallory are also in double figures, but what makes this offense particularly tough to guard is its depth. Nine different players average at least five points per game.
That kind of balance means UNC’s defense won’t have the luxury of focusing on just one or two scorers-everyone on the floor is a threat.
And that could be a real challenge for a Tar Heels defense that’s had its share of lapses lately. Virginia’s combination of size, depth, and improved offensive pace makes them a different kind of test than in years past.
The core identity-defense, discipline, and physicality-is still there. But now, they’ve added a scoring punch that can stretch a lead instead of just protecting it.
This trip to Charlottesville was always going to be a tough one for North Carolina. But with Odom’s Cavaliers playing confident, balanced basketball on both ends of the floor, it’s not just a tough test-it’s a measuring stick.