Virginia Survives Another ACC Scare, But There’s Plenty to Unpack in 73-66 Win Over Boston College
For the second straight game, Virginia found itself in a dogfight against a lower-tier ACC opponent. This time, it was Boston College pushing the Cavaliers to the brink.
But once again, UVA found a way to get it done, pulling out a 73-66 win on the road thanks to a second-half surge and a gritty effort from Thijs De Ridder, who led the way with 17 points. Malik Thomas (14) and Chance Mallory (11) also chipped in double figures.
The Cavaliers trailed at halftime, didn’t take their first lead until the 15:31 mark of the second half, and never quite created enough separation to breathe easy. But in a league where road wins are never guaranteed - especially when you’re not playing your best - surviving is sometimes the most important stat on the box score.
Let’s dig into what we learned from this one.
UVA Escapes, But the Warning Signs Are Real
Let’s be clear: it’s always better to learn lessons after a win than a loss. And Virginia’s now done that in back-to-back games, narrowly avoiding what could’ve been resume-damaging defeats against conference bottom-dwellers.
After the blowout loss to North Carolina, these two games were supposed to be bounce-back opportunities. Instead, they’ve felt more like survival drills.
But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that this mini-slump came at a manageable time. The big wins at Louisville and SMU are still carrying weight, and now the focus shifts to regaining rhythm and confidence before the schedule stiffens again.
Boston College Finds a New Way to Exploit Virginia’s Defense
Virginia’s defense has long been its calling card, and under Ryan Odom, that identity still holds - even if the style has shifted a bit. The blueprint had been working: run shooters off the arc, funnel drives into the shot blockers, and let guys like Johann Gruenloh and Ugo Onyenso clean things up at the rim.
But Boston College threw a different kind of punch. Forget stretch bigs or perimeter-heavy lineups - the Eagles went old school, bullying UVA in the paint with a pair of bruisers: 6'11", 256-pound Boden Kapke and 6'9", 240-pound Jayden Hastings. Together, they combined for 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting, overwhelming Virginia’s frontcourt with sheer physicality.
This wasn’t the same kind of five-out, pick-and-pop attack that Notre Dame used to pull shot blockers away from the rim. BC just went right at them. And it worked.
Gruenloh and Onyenso are athletic and long, but they’re not built to anchor against that kind of size. Devin Tillis also struggled in isolation against BC’s post players, getting caught out of position on a few interior passes.
The good news? Thijs De Ridder looks like the answer to that problem.
More on him in a bit.
Transition Troubles Continue
One of the more surprising elements of this game was how often Virginia got beat in transition - and not just on offense, but defense too.
In the first half, Boston College scored two uncontested breakaway layups. These weren’t the result of turnovers or lazy passes - just UVA failing to get back after missed shots.
That’s the risk when your guards crash the glass and press in the backcourt. But it’s a fixable one.
On the other side, Virginia didn’t exactly light it up in transition either. There were precious few fast-break opportunities, and when they did come, the execution wasn’t crisp.
One late-game two-on-one break with Malik Thomas and Dallin Hall ended in a fumble that rolled harmlessly into the corner. Those are the kinds of moments that can swing tight games - and they’re the kind Virginia needs to clean up if they want to play faster without losing control.
Ironically, the Cavaliers ended up winning this game by doing what they’ve always done best: slowing things down and grinding out stops. The pace may be faster under Odom, but when the game’s on the line, the DNA still looks a lot like the Tony Bennett era.
When the Threes Don’t Fall, UVA Finds Another Gear
Virginia shot just 4-of-23 from deep. That’s not a typo. But instead of folding, the Cavaliers leaned into a different approach - and it worked.
Chance Mallory continues to be a revelation. The freshman guard didn’t have his best shooting night, but his quickness and fearlessness attacking the rim were huge in the second half. He drew contact, finished through traffic, and gave Virginia a much-needed jolt of energy when the offense stalled.
Thomas, meanwhile, looked more like the three-level scorer he was at San Francisco. He’s cooled off from deep, but his ability to beat defenders off the dribble and hit midrange shots adds a new dimension to this team. His late-clock jumper with six minutes left was a big-time bucket that kept UVA in control.
Even with the outside shots not falling, there’s enough slashing and off-the-bounce creation from Mallory, Thomas, and even Dallin Hall and Sam Lewis to keep defenses honest. That’s a good sign for a team that can’t always rely on the three.
Thijs De Ridder Is Becoming a Force
Let’s talk about Thijs De Ridder. Because he’s not just contributing - he’s becoming the focal point of this offense.
The Belgian big man poured in 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, all around the rim. He was the most physically dominant player on the floor, and Virginia wisely kept feeding him in the high post. Boston College didn’t double, and De Ridder made them pay.
He’s not just a bruiser, though. De Ridder has soft touch, good footwork, and a pump fake that defenders have to respect thanks to his 37% mark from three this season. Even though he only took one triple in this game, that threat opened up driving lanes and allowed him to get downhill.
And don’t overlook what he’s doing at the free-throw line. De Ridder is now 36-for-42 (86%) over his last six games, including 3-for-4 in this one. That kind of consistency from the stripe makes him even more valuable in close games.
Defensively, he’s still learning - but the tools are there. He’s got the frame to bang with bigger post players and is starting to show more discipline in avoiding fouls. If he continues to grow on that end, he could be the two-way anchor this team needs down the stretch.
Final Word
This wasn’t Virginia’s cleanest performance, and it certainly wasn’t the most convincing. But it was a win - and in February, that’s what matters. The Cavaliers are still figuring things out under Ryan Odom, still learning how to blend pace with poise, and still searching for consistency.
But with De Ridder emerging, Mallory continuing to impress, and the team showing resilience even when the shots aren’t falling, there’s reason to believe this group has more to give. The margin for error may be slim, but the potential is still there.
Now it’s about putting it all together - before the next scare turns into something more.