Virginia’s projected starting five is starting to come into focus, and there’s a clearer picture now than there was just a couple of weeks ago.
At point guard, Mallory looks like the guy. He was Virginia’s top rotational option at the position for the Cavaliers’ 30-win team last season, and now he’s in line to take over as a full-time starter in 2026. The shot still needs to become more reliable, but his perimeter defense gives him a real chance to grow into one of the ACC’s better all-around point guards in 2026/2027.
The backcourt around him is taking shape too. Dixon appears to be the leading candidate to start at shooting guard, and the reason is pretty straightforward: he brings more scoring punch and more variety as a scorer than Christian Harmon. Harmon has the size and physicality to hold up at the point of attack, but Ryan Odom seems to value the versatility Jurian Dixon offers.
Sam Lewis is another piece whose role is expanding. He’s expected to be leaned on as both a shooter and a ball-handler this season, which fits with the staff’s search for more facilitators on offense.
Lewis was one of Virginia’s most dependable players last year, and his combination of size and three-point shooting gives him a chance to score in bunches when he’s rolling. Even if he’s listed as a small forward, the way Odom uses him makes the 2/3 distinction feel more like two interchangeable wings than a traditional setup.
In the frontcourt, De Ridder should again be one of the most dangerous scoring forwards in college basketball. He’s going to be a problem for most ACC power forwards in the paint, and the question now is whether he plays with a little more edge this year. There were stretches last season when he passed up strong looks at the rim and settled for a rough hook shot or jumper instead.
Then there’s Grünloh, whose offseason work has already become part of the conversation. He’s reportedly added a good amount of weight in an effort to better handle the physicality of top centers and improve as a rebounder. That kind of commitment stands out, especially because despite being 7'0" tall, he wasn’t the best rebounder in 2025/2026 and it showed against teams with especially physical frontcourts.
In Other News...
Virginias Biggest Fall Camp Battle Could Shape The Entire 2026 Season
Fall camp is about to give Virginia a clearer picture of how its 2026 depth chart will take shape, and the biggest decisions are spread across both sides of the ball. The Cavaliers have a mix of incoming transfers and returning players in the hunt for key jobs, with Beau Pribula, Peyton Lewis and several others set to be evaluated in a setting where every rep matters. After last seasons success, the coaching staff is leaning on this group to keep the momentum going while proving it can handle bigger roles.
Peyton Lewis is among the names worth watching most closely because the running back spot looks wide open enough for someone to grab it with a strong camp. Virginia also has competition in the passing game and in the secondary, where multiple players are pushing for major snaps and starting consideration. For a roster trying to build on what it already established, the next few weeks could quietly determine not just who plays, but how the Cavaliers are built when the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias 2026 Schedule Sets Up A Real Wins Or Warning Debate
Virginias 2026 football schedule has the feel of a clean split between games the Cavaliers should expect to control and the handful that will tell the real story. There are obvious mismatches on the slate, but the more interesting part is how many of the winnable-looking ACC games come with some kind of caveat, whether it is a shaky offense, a coaching reset or a roster still trying to settle in. For a program trying to climb into a more stable place, the schedule offers plenty of chances to build momentum, but not many that will come without some level of scrutiny.
SMU stands out as the toughest assignment and the one that could define how high Virginia can aim, especially if the Cavaliers have to lean on their offensive line and running backs to keep the game on schedule. Elsewhere, the margin for error looks thinner than it first appears, with several opponents carrying their own questions into the fall and a few others looking like games Virginia ought to handle if it plays to expectation. The debate, then, is not just about how many wins are on the board, but which matchups will actually reveal whether this is a schedule that flatters or tests the Cavaliers. [Read more 🡒]