Virginia’s first exhibition offered an early glimpse at how Ryan Odom may shape the Cavaliers’ 2026-27 rotation, and one thing already looks clear: the top of the lineup is taking form.
The core is set with Chance Mallory, Sam Lewis, Thijs De Ridder and Johann Grunloh, and the only real question entering the exhibition was who would claim the small forward spot. That answer appears to be Nolan Adekunle, who started Sunday and now looks like the favorite to round out the first five.
Adekunle brings exactly the kind of profile that can stick next to that group. He was one of the top international players available this offseason, and his defense plus his ability to make things happen without dominating the ball give Virginia a clean fit alongside Mallory, Lewis, De Ridder and Grunloh.
That starting group leaves Odom with a much bigger rotation than he used last year, largely because the roster is crowded with shooters and returning pieces. Still, the distribution of minutes seems pretty easy to sketch out at the top.
Mallory is the engine. He should handle a huge share of the point guard minutes, and there doesn’t seem to be much mystery there.
He’s Virginia’s best facilitator, a dangerous scorer and a productive defender. Odom said he can share the floor with Jan Vide in certain lineups, which only strengthens the case for a heavy workload.
It would be a surprise if the Cavaliers ever went away from Mallory or Vide at the point, but if they do need another ballhandler, Elijah Gertrude is the next option.
Lewis being listed as a guard rather than a forward points to him opening at shooting guard, not small forward. That fits the shape of the lineup and helps explain why Adekunle looks like such a strong bet to start.
The bench picture is crowded, and Julian Dixon may be best served as the primary scoring option off it. He was viewed early on as a possible starter, but he could wind up in more of a Jacari White type of role.
Christian Harmon should also be in line for meaningful minutes when Adekunle sits, while Dixon, Silas Barksdale or even Gertrude could all factor in there depending on how Odom wants to mix and match.
Martin Carrere is another name in the mix, but Virginia already has plenty of shooters, which makes the path tighter. Barksdale may have an edge for the final rotation spot because of his defensive upside and because he can function more like a frontcourt piece than a taller wing.
De Ridder could be headed for a career-high workload. Devin Tillis is gone, and Kalu Anya still has to show he can handle major backup minutes. If that doesn’t happen, De Ridder may end up leading the team in minutes.
And then there’s the frontcourt wildcard: Grunloh. With added weight and experience, he should absorb a large chunk of the minutes vacated by Ugonna Onyenso. That looks even more likely with Favour Ibe as a true freshman and Anya possibly better suited to power forward.
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Virginia Faces ACC Test That Could Validate Its Fast Start
Virginias early surge in ACC play is about to meet a familiar league foe in a place it has not visited in more than a decade. The Cavaliers and Florida State are set to meet for the second straight season and the 21st time overall, with Virginia heading to Tallahassee for the first time since 2014. The matchup comes as Virginia has opened conference play unbeaten through four weeks and has built its start on a defense that has been difficult to move and even harder to finish against.
The timing adds another layer because this is Virginias first true road game of the season, a useful measuring stick for a team trying to turn a fast start into something more durable. The Cavaliers have been sharp away from home lately as well, winning four consecutive true road games dating back to last season, and now they have to show that edge can hold up against an ACC opponent in one of the leagues tougher visiting settings. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces Its First ACC Gut Check In Tallahassee
Virginias first true road test of the season arrives in a familiar place with some historical weight attached, as the Cavaliers head to Tallahassee for an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with Florida State. Virginia is 3-1 and coming off a home win, while Florida State sits at 2-2 after beating Central Arkansas, setting up a meeting between two teams that have already shown enough to make this one feel like an early-season measuring stick.
The Cavaliers have taken the last two games in the series, even though Florida State still owns the edge overall, and that backdrop adds a little extra tension to a trip that will ask Virginia to prove itself away from home for the first time this year. Both sides lean on experienced quarterbacks and running backs, which should keep this from being a simple test of who can settle in faster, and Virginias recent success in the matchup only makes the road challenge more intriguing. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Gets Another ACC Test As Hoos Buzz Builds On Two Fronts
Virginia has settled into the kind of early-season rhythm that keeps a fan base interested on multiple fronts, with football off to a 3-1 start and another ACC road trip coming into view. The Cavaliers are heading to Florida State for a conference matchup that has already drawn plenty of outside chatter, with analysts and podcasts zeroing in on Virginias defense while also taking note of the turbulence around the Seminoles coaching situation and the unease in their fan base.
The timing only adds to the buzz in Charlottesville, where basketball is also beginning to take shape as preseason work continues after an outdoor exhibition against Vanderbilt. There are already conversations about new leadership roles within that group, which gives Virginia a familiar fall-through-winter feel: one team trying to prove its footing in league play, another trying to define its voice before the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]