Virginia opened its season Tuesday with a 89-60 win over Drexel, giving Ryan Odom a 1-0 start in his second year in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers built the game around a huge first half, piling up 51 points and forcing 15 turnovers before the Dragons settled in after halftime. By then, Virginia’s 24-point cushion was already doing the heavy lifting.
The night belonged to Thijs De Ridder from the jump. He needed only five seconds to score Virginia’s first points of the season, finishing a quick layup off the tip-off.
From there, the second-year forward kept rolling. In the first three minutes, he had 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting, plus two offensive rebounds and a steal.
He went into halftime with 18 points, then added six more after the break to finish with a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds.
De Ridder did more than score. He kept the ball moving, attacked closeouts, finished through contact, and helped open up easy looks for teammates. For the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, it was a strong opening statement and another sign that he looks like Virginia’s clear top option in what is his second and final season.
Elijah Gertrude also gave the Cavaliers a lift. After missing a season to injury, the fourth-year guard spent much of last year on the end of the bench, mostly appearing in blowouts or when foul trouble forced Odom’s hand.
Against Drexel, though, he logged 15 minutes and looked like a real part of the rotation. He finished with eight points, two assists, four rebounds, and three steals, giving Virginia an athletic secondary creator off the bench.
The Cavaliers also spent the first half experimenting with different looks. At one point, after Kalu Anya came in for De Ridder, Virginia was effectively playing with two centers, using Anya and Johann Grunloh together while first-year forward Nolan Adekunle provided another big body on the wing.
Later, Virginia went in the opposite direction and played a stretch without a conventional center, with De Ridder as the tallest player on the floor. Neither setup lasted long, but both showed how much lineup flexibility this group can offer.
The Cavaliers will need to clean up the rough edges, but those kinds of combinations could matter a lot this season.
Sam Lewis rounded out the night with a sharp offensive showing of his own. The fourth-year guard scored 20 points on 6-for-12 shooting, knocked down four of six attempts from deep, and showed a quick, confident release.
He also handled the ball well, using a tight, fast dribble to create separation and get downhill. Lewis finished with three assists and just one turnover.
With De Ridder leading the way, Lewis may end up as Virginia’s next-best scoring option. He can space the floor off the ball and create when needed, but Tuesday was an encouraging first look at what he might bring if that production holds.
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