Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder has landed on the 2026-27 Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List, one of 50 players recognized Monday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
De Ridder enters the season after a strong first year with the Cavaliers, when he was named All-ACC first team. He led Virginia in scoring at 15.6 points per game and in rebounding at 6.2 boards per game.
The honor adds another preseason nod for De Ridder, who joined Malcolm Brogdon as the only Cavaliers to receive preseason ACC Player of the Year recognition. Brogdon was chosen as co-Player of the Year before the 2015-16 season.
Virginia, ranked No. 9, opens its season Tuesday, Nov. 3, against Drexel. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with the game set for the ACC Network and the Virginia Sports Radio Network.
2026-27 Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List
Amari Allen, Alabama
Flory Bidunga, Louisville
John Blackwell, Duke
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Duke
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Alex Condon, Florida
Jason Crowe Jr., Missouri
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
Silas Demary Jr., Connecticut
Mason Falslev, Utah State
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
PJ Haggerty, Texas A&M
Juke Harris, Tennessee
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Shelton Henderson, Miami
Aden Holloway, Alabama
Caleb Holt, Arizona
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Braden Huff, Gonzaga
Thomislav Ivišić, Illinois
Nigel James Jr., Marquette
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Kansas
Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Acaden Lewis, Miami
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Trey McKenney, Michigan
David Mirković, Illinois
John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
Braylon Mullins, Connecticut
Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
Patrick Ngongba II, Duke
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
David Punch, Texas
Malik Reneau, Miami
Rodney Rice, USC
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Jackson Shellstad, Louisville
Jordan Smith Jr., Arkansas
Andrej Stojaković, Illinois
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Mataas Vokietaitis, Texas
Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
Robert Wright III, BYU
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John’s
In Other News...
Virginias Next Home Game Carries Extra Weight Beyond The Losing Streak
Virginias next chance to reset the season comes with a little more on the line than the standings. The Cavaliers host Cal on Nov. 14 in a game tied to their annual Heroes Appreciation Game, a day that gives the home crowd a chance to do more than just fill the stands and cheer on a team trying to shake off a rough stretch.
Both programs arrive with three-game losing streaks, but Virginia can lean on a strong home record this season as it looks to steady itself in front of its own fans. The matchup also carries the kind of community feel that has become part of this date on the calendar, with support for veterans and active-duty service members woven into the days purpose. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias Biggest Early Test Could Decide Its Ceiling
Virginia enters the season with the kind of profile that invites bigger questions than simply whether it can win games. Ranked No. 9 nationally, it looks like a team built to matter in March, but the early challenge is less about talent than about how the frontcourt holds up when the games get physical and the whistles start to matter. For a program leaning on defense and structure, the margin for error can shrink quickly if the interior rotation gets thin.
Johann Grunloh and freshman Favour Ibe loom as the key names in that equation, because foul trouble there would force Ryan Odom to rethink how he wants to protect the rim and finish possessions. Virginia has options, but the interesting part is how far Odom is willing to bend the lineup if the usual big-man plan gets stressed. Whether that means shifting responsibilities inside or reaching for something more unconventional, the Cavaliers ceiling may depend on how well they survive those stretches without losing their identity. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Basketball Has Real Expectations Fans Havent Felt In Years
For the first time in a while, Virginia mens basketball is heading into a season with a sense of continuity that should make fans feel a little more comfortable about what comes next. Ryan Odom has a roster with real familiarity, and the Cavaliers also have some preseason ACC recognition to point toward, a sign that the league sees more here than just a rebuilding project. Adekunle, Thijs De Ridder and Chance Mallory are all expected to play major roles, giving Virginia a core that should be easy to track from the opening stretch of the 2026-27 season.
The challenge, of course, is that expectations come with a sharper spotlight, and Virginias schedule is not offering any favors. Odom is already drawing attention in the ACC coach of the year conversation, which tells you how much belief there is around this group before it has even played a game that counts. The Cavaliers will be tested early and often, and the road ahead includes a matchup that will tell a lot about how far this roster can go. [Read more 🡒]