After an 11-day break for exams, Virginia came out a little sluggish against Maryland-but by the final buzzer, the Cavaliers looked every bit like a team finding its identity at just the right time. Behind a pair of perfect shooting performances and a dominant display in the paint, Virginia pulled away from their longtime rival for an 80-72 win that was as much about chemistry as it was about execution.
And leading the charge? Dallin Hall, or as his teammates now affectionately call him, “Captain America.”
Hall, the BYU transfer, was flawless from the floor-literally. He went 8-for-8 shooting, hit his only three-point attempt, and added six assists, three rebounds, and three steals in a season-high 20-point performance that set the tone for Virginia's offense.
More than just the numbers, it was the way Hall controlled the game on both ends that stood out. Calm, composed, and confident-exactly what you want from your floor general.
“He’s everything for us,” said forward Devin Tillis. “He’s our captain.
We call him Captain America. When he’s scoring like that, it just fuels the fire even more.”
Hall, as you’d expect, deflected the praise. He pointed to the belief his coaches and teammates have in him as the real source of his confidence.
“I’m extremely grateful for this staff,” Hall said. “They pour a lot of confidence into me.
And my teammates. Exhibit A: Devin Tillis.
He’s always on me about being assertive, looking to make plays for us.”
Tillis didn’t just talk the talk-he backed it up with a perfect shooting night of his own. The UC Irvine transfer went 4-for-4 from the field, adding a rebound, an assist, and a steal off the bench. He’s still ramping up after returning from a knee injury, but Tuesday night was another step forward in his growing impact.
“I feel like I’m getting back to where I can make a super impact on this team,” Tillis said. “I always tell coach, wherever you need me, you just put me in and I got you.
Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it. I’m just the ultimate glue guy.
Ultimately, I just want to win this year.”
That kind of selfless mentality is exactly what Virginia is leaning into as it builds momentum heading into conference play. Head coach Ryan Odom has a roster that blends veteran know-how with young talent, and the trust between those groups is starting to show.
“Devin’s been on some of the most winning teams in the country,” Hall said. “We’ve brought in a lot of guys who know how to win, and then you mix that with the extreme young talent that we have-it’s such a great blend.”
That blend didn’t look so smooth early on, though. Virginia struggled to find its rhythm out of the gate, missing shots around the rim and looking out of sync against Maryland’s physical defense. But while the offense took time to get going, the defense held the line.
“Our defense kept us in it at that point until we could play a little bit more like ourselves,” Odom said. “We were pleased overall defensively with what our guys did, shy some of the fouling and the offensive rebounding.”
Virginia was slightly edged on the boards overall-41-34 in favor of Maryland-but the Cavaliers matched the Terps with 16 offensive rebounds and stayed within striking distance until they found their spark. That moment came late in the first half, when a Tillis floater ignited a 13-0 run heading into the break.
“We were clearly a little bit rusty getting back on the court,” Tillis said. “My mindset was to get in the paint and let’s make things happen.
That’s what I did to spark something. Then talking to the guys in the huddles on the court-we kick it out, spray it, get in the paint, and score in the paint.”
That wasn’t just talk. Virginia dominated the interior, outscoring Maryland 44-12 in the paint.
It wasn’t just a stylistic choice-it was a statement of identity. The Cavaliers weren’t settling for jumpers.
They were attacking, probing, and finishing.
As for the superhero nicknames? That’s just part of the team chemistry that’s clearly growing.
The “Avengers” moniker started during summer conditioning, when Hall, leading a run, echoed the famous “on your left” line from Marvel lore. Since then, the nickname stuck-and now it’s become a fun way to reflect the roles each player takes on.
Tillis, of course, had his own character in mind. “I’m Samuel L.
Jackson,” he said, channeling Nick Fury, the mastermind who brings the Avengers together. “He kind of orchestrates it.
That’s me.”
Hall didn’t argue. “Dev is the organizer,” he said. “He’s the heartbeat of our team, for sure.”
That heartbeat is starting to sync up at just the right time. In Odom’s first season, Virginia is climbing the rankings and showing signs of a team that’s figuring out how to win together.
Against Maryland, they didn’t panic when things got tough. They leaned on each other.
That’s not just good basketball-it’s the foundation of a team with staying power.
“We feel like there’s definitely some areas for us to improve,” Hall said. “But we did make game-winning plays when it mattered. So we’re gonna just learn from it, build on it, and keep trusting in each other and staying together through it all.”
If the Avengers analogy holds, Virginia isn’t just assembling. They’re starting to believe in their collective strength. And that could make them a real problem come March.