The Virginia Cavaliers are stepping into a new chapter under the leadership of Ryan Odom, and what a start it's been. With a fresh roster featuring 12 new faces, the Cavaliers have stormed through the season with 29 victories, making Odom the most successful first-year coach in ACC history. Their impressive performance secured them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia snagged the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, as announced on Selection Sunday. They'll face off against No. 14 seed Wright State in Philadelphia this Friday. This marks Virginia's highest tournament seeding since their triumphant 2019 National Championship run when they entered as a No. 1 seed.
Coach Odom is thrilled with both the high seed and the East Coast location, noting, “Both are huge. It’s a testament to the hard work these guys have put in since June.
We’re excited for them. Being a three seed and staying close to home is great for our fans and a fantastic opportunity for our team.”
The Cavaliers head into March Madness with a 29-5 record, having made it to the ACC Tournament Championship Game before falling to Duke, the top overall seed. Wright State, on a five-game winning streak after clinching the Horizon League title, comes in with a 23-11 record, making their first tournament appearance since 2022.
Virginia is a formidable opponent, boasting depth and balance. Odom utilizes a nine-player rotation, with eight players averaging at least 5.9 points.
Leading the charge is Thijs De Ridder, who averages 15.5 points. The Cavaliers employ a full-court man defense, funneling opponents into their shot-blocking duo, Ugo Onyenso and Johann Grünloh, who have both surpassed 75 blocks this season.
Onyenso recently climbed to fourth on Virginia’s single-season blocks list with a record-setting ACC Tournament performance, tallying 21 blocks to reach 101 for the season.
Offensively, Virginia ranks 31st nationally in efficiency, scoring 1.159 points per possession, and 55th in scoring, averaging 80.6 points per game. Defensively, they allow 0.983 points per possession, ranking 34th, and 68.4 points per game, ranking 41st.
Wright State, meanwhile, ranks 57th in offensive efficiency at 1.127 points per possession and 66th in scoring at 80.0 points per game. Defensively, they sit at 186th, allowing 1.063 points per possession, and 203rd in scoring defense, allowing 75.4 points per game.
Both teams are proficient from beyond the arc, with Virginia shooting 35.9% (63rd nationally) and Wright State slightly better at 36.1% (51st nationally). However, Virginia takes a higher volume of threes, with 46.5% of their shots coming from downtown, compared to Wright State's 33.7%.
This could force Wright State to rely heavily on their inside game, where Virginia's defense shines, allowing just 44.7% on two-point attempts, ranking seventh nationally. This matchup promises a classic strength versus strength showdown.
“We’re diving into Wright State’s game plan over the next few days,” Odom shared. “Their coach has done an outstanding job, and their players excel in getting into the paint. Ugo and Johann have been exceptional in protecting the rim, but we need to prepare thoroughly to counter their strategies.”
The winner of the UVA-Wright State clash will advance to face Tennessee, Miami of Ohio, or SMU in the round of 32 on Sunday. Miami (Ohio) and SMU will battle it out in a First Four game in Dayton on Wednesday. Miami enters the tournament at 31-1 after an undefeated regular season, while SMU makes their first appearance as an ACC team since 2017.
Keep it locked here for more coverage as Virginia embarks on their NCAA Tournament journey.