Virginia didn’t just beat Arkansas on Sunday. The No. 9 Cavaliers put on the kind of showing that announces itself.
In the Skyscanner Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., UVA rolled past No. 12 Arkansas, 91-72, and at one point stretched the margin to 27 points in the second half. It was a clean, emphatic win in the first real test of the young season, and it came with all five starters finishing in double figures.
Johann Grünloh, the 7-foot center, was at the center of it all and earned game MVP honors after posting 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and a game-high five blocks. Ryan Odom called it “One of Johann's most complete games in a Virginia uniform,” and it was hard to argue after the way he controlled the paint.
Virginia’s biggest edge showed up in the final score, but the atmosphere mattered too. A crowd of 10,977 packed the Wizards’ building, with both fan bases showing up in force.
Arkansas had its moments early in the stands, but Virginia’s side took over as the game wore on. By the final minute, the Cavalier fans were on their feet, chanting, “U-V-A!
U-V-A! U-V-A!”
“We appreciate all the fans from both teams that showed up to make the atmosphere really, really strong and NCAA tournament-like,” Odom said.
Sam Lewis and Thijs De Ridder led the scoring for UVA with 16 points apiece, and De Ridder added a game-high 10 rebounds. The ACC’s Preseason Player of the Year also had to navigate foul trouble after picking up two early fouls and heading to the bench with 18:17 left in the first half.
That opened the door for Kalu Anya, a Saint Louis transfer, and he handled the assignment well. Anya finished with three points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal in 18-plus minutes.
“He did amazing,” De Ridder said.
Anya kept his focus on the job in front of him.
“Any time I come into the game, I’ve just got to do what I do and contribute to winning,” Anya said.
Elijah Gertrude gave Virginia another lift off the bench, scoring eight points and leading the team with three steals.
“Everybody has to be ready,” De Ridder said.
Chance Mallory also played a major role in the backcourt. The second-year point guard finished with 15 points, six assists and two steals while committing just one turnover. Odom praised the way he managed the game, saying, “He does all the things that you need a point guard to do to help your team win,” and he's not afraid of anything.”
The win pushed Virginia to 3-0, and it came against a ranked opponent with a schedule that only gets tougher from here. Odom has lined up Kentucky, Connecticut, Maryland, Xavier and Marquette still to come, a run he believes will serve this group well later in the season.
“I think it prepares us for what's coming [later] in January, February or even March,” Grünloh said. “We get good preparation for the big games at the end, and I think that helps us come closer together and be ready for those.”
For Arkansas, John Calipari gave Virginia its due while pushing back on any overreaction to the loss.
“Give them credit,” Calipari said. “Don't look at us like we're awful.
We're not awful. We're just really young and inexperienced.
But they're really good. They're a basketball team.
When you watched it, it had to be fun.”
In Other News...
Virginia Just Sent An Early Message Against A Ranked Opponent
Virginias season-opening statement at Capital One Arena came with the kind of edge and maturity that can travel. In the Capital Showcase, the Cavaliers handled Arkansas 91-72 by leaning on experience and physicality, with Thijs De Ridder posting 16 points and 10 rebounds and Nolan Adekunle adding 13 points. Ryan Odom liked the way his team moved the ball and tightened up defensively, while John Calipari came away viewing it as a useful lesson for a young Razorbacks group.
For Virginia, the encouraging part is not just the result but the shape of it. The Cavaliers looked organized, connected and comfortable against a ranked opponent, which is exactly the sort of early benchmark Odom wanted his group to hit. There was also a clear sense that several pieces fit neatly into place, even if one of the nights more intriguing individual developments still leaves a little room for more to come. [Read more 🡒]