Virginia Heads to Texas for ACC/SEC Challenge Clash: What to Know About the New-Look Cavaliers
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia Cavaliers are heading into unfamiliar territory this week - literally and figuratively. On Wednesday night, they’ll face Texas for the first time in program history as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Tipoff is set for 9:15 p.m. ET at the Moody Center, with the game airing on ESPNU and streaming on ESPN.com.
And while the matchup is new, the energy around this Virginia team feels just as fresh. Under first-year head coach Ryan Odom, the Cavaliers are off to a 6-1 start and playing a style that’s turning heads - fast-paced, aggressive, and loaded with contributions from a brand-new cast.
Let’s break down what’s fueling the Cavaliers’ early surge, what to watch for in Austin, and why this game is a significant measuring stick for a program in transition.
A New Era Under Ryan Odom
Ryan Odom took over the reins in March, and if the early returns are any indication, he’s wasted no time putting his stamp on the program. Odom arrived in Charlottesville after a successful two-year stint at VCU, where he led the Rams to a 52-21 record, an Atlantic-10 Tournament title, and a 2025 NCAA Tournament appearance.
This is Odom’s fifth head coaching stop, and his track record speaks volumes - NCAA Tournament berths in Year 2 at UMBC, Utah State, and VCU, and of course, that historic 2018 upset when his UMBC squad became the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 (yes, that No. 1 was Virginia).
Now, he’s flipped the script - leading Virginia, not coaching against it. And he’s already made history in his own right, becoming the first UVA head coach to start 5-0, topping a mark that had stood since 1905.
Offensive Explosion: A New Look for UVA
For a program long known for its methodical, defense-first approach, this year’s Cavaliers are playing with a different gear. Virginia scored 80+ points in each of its first five games - a program first - and is currently averaging 87.6 points per game.
That’s not a typo.
They’re letting it fly from deep, too. UVA is attempting a school-record 28.6 three-pointers per game and shooting a solid 36.5% from beyond the arc. Against Queens on Nov. 28, they dropped a season-high 15 threes, with six different players hitting multiple triples - something that had never happened before in UVA history.
The scoring is balanced and deep. Thijs De Ridder leads the way at 18 points per game, but Malik Thomas (13.4), Chance Mallory (11.3), and Sam Lewis (10.4) are all in double figures as well. In that win over Queens, six players scored in double digits - the first time that’s happened for Virginia since 2008.
Rim Protection and Rebounding: The Defensive Backbone
While the offense is getting plenty of headlines, the Cavaliers haven’t abandoned their defensive DNA. In fact, they’re dominating the paint on both ends.
Virginia ranks second nationally in blocks per game (8.0), thanks to the twin towers of Ugonna Onyenso and Johann Grünloh. Onyenso swatted eight shots against Butler, while Grünloh had seven blocks versus NC Central. Both are in the top five nationally in blocks per game - Grünloh at 3.3, Onyenso at 3.1 - and they’ve each had multiple blocks in nearly every contest.
The rebounding numbers are just as impressive. UVA leads the country in offensive rebounds per game (17.6), sits 10th in total rebounds (44.7), and boasts a +12 rebound margin. They’ve pulled down 49 or more boards in four games already, and in three of those, they grabbed 20+ on the offensive glass.
This isn’t just a team that shoots - it crashes the glass with purpose.
Meet the New Cavaliers
With 12 newcomers on the roster, this is a Virginia team that looks nothing like last year’s version - and that’s by design. Only three players returned from the 2024-25 squad, and just four points came back with them (all from Desmond Roberts).
Odom hit the portal and the international market hard. Dallin Hall (BYU), Malik Thomas (San Francisco), Devin Tillis (UC Irvine), Jacari White (North Dakota State), Ugonna Onyenso (Kansas State), Sam Lewis (Toledo), and Martin Carrere (VCU) all transferred in. From overseas, De Ridder (Bilbao Basket) and Grünloh (RASTA Vechta) have made immediate impacts.
True freshmen like Chance Mallory, Silas Barksdale, and Owen Odom have also cracked the rotation, giving Virginia a blend of experience, youth, and international flair that’s rare in college basketball.
Grünloh leads the team in rebounding (7.7) and blocks (3.3), while Hall runs the offense with a team-best 4.0 assists per game.
What’s at Stake in Austin
This matchup with Texas isn’t just another non-conference game - it’s a chance for Virginia to prove its early-season success is more than just a hot start.
The Cavaliers are 1-1 all-time in the ACC/SEC Challenge, with a win over Texas A&M in 2023 and a loss at Florida last year. Now, they’ll face a Longhorns squad that’s also off to a strong start and looking to defend its home court.
For Virginia, it’s a test of how this new group handles a big-stage, road environment - and how their high-octane offense and rim-protecting defense hold up against Power Five competition.
Looking Ahead
After Texas, Virginia will turn its attention to a non-conference showdown with Dayton on Saturday, Dec. 6 in Charlotte, N.C. That game tips at Noon ET on ESPN2.
But first, all eyes are on Austin. A win there wouldn’t just move the Cavaliers to 7-1 - it would send a message that this reloaded roster and new coaching staff are ready to compete on the national stage.
And based on what we’ve seen so far, don’t be surprised if they do just that.