No. 9 Virginia may not have to wait long to learn who Ryan Odom trusts when the final possession matters.
The Cavaliers open the season with a November schedule that should force the issue quickly. In the third game alone, Virginia faces No.
12 Arkansas in Washington D.C., and five days after that comes a road trip to Maryland, a team described as always-scrappy. Tight games figure to show up early, and that means the late-game pecking order is suddenly one of the biggest questions hanging over the roster.
Last season, Virginia had a clear answer in crunch time because the supporting cast could create offense when possessions got messy. Dallin Hall, Malik Thomas, and Jacari White all gave the Cavaliers experienced scoring help in the second half, while Ugonna Onyenso brought rebounding and shot-blocking off the bench that swung games.
But that group is gone now. Hall transferred to Utah State, Thomas and White are overseas, and Onyenso is on a two-way contract with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
So while Virginia returns three starters and a sixth man, it no longer has the same obvious late-game setup. Odom has options, though, and the first name on the list is the one that comes with the most polish and the biggest preseason spotlight.
Thijs De Ridder, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, looks like Virginia’s lead option. He led the Cavaliers in scoring and field goals last season and was named to the All-ACC First Team in the spring.
De Ridder’s game fits pressure moments: he scores efficiently, plays through contact, draws fouls, and can go hunting for mismatches when the game tightens up. He uses his size and strength well around the post, and his touch around the basket and in the midrange gives him ways to score even when he’s off balance.
When De Ridder’s offense is rolling, the decision for Odom should be straightforward. A big, physical, efficient scorer who can handle contact is hard to find in college basketball, and that makes De Ridder the safest bet to finish games for Virginia.
Chance Mallory gives the Cavaliers another strong closing option. As a second-year guard, he was excellent off the bench last season and is now moving into the starting lineup.
Mallory already has traits that matter late: he gets to the line often, led Virginia in free-throw rate last season, and shot 77.5% from the stripe. He also creates his own offense.
BartTorvik says less than a fifth of his baskets at the rim were assisted, which matters in endgame situations when legs are heavy and the shot clock is shrinking.
If Mallory adds more as a shooter, especially off the dribble, his case gets even stronger. For now, his offensive rebounding and defensive playmaking should keep him on the floor. If that scoring leap comes, he could become the kind of player Virginia leans on when possessions get tense.
The Cavaliers have more than two choices, too. Sam Lewis, now in his second season in Odom’s system, was a useful starter as a junior because of what he did away from the ball as a shooter and cutter.
He also already showed he can swing big moments. Last season, Lewis scored 20 in a half against NC State, buried a game-tying three against Notre Dame, and averaged 15 points per game in the ACC Tournament.
With a bigger offensive role and more chances to operate on the ball, he could absolutely be in the mix when games are on the line.
Then there are the portal additions, Jurian Dixon and Christian Harmon. Both came off the bench in Virginia’s two exhibition games, but both arrived from mid-major programs where they carried significant offensive responsibility.
Together, they attempted 397 threes last season and made 144. In a smaller role with Virginia, either could emerge as a creator capable of helping the Cavaliers separate in close games.
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Tony Elliott Sends Clear Message As Virginia Offense Keeps Slipping
Virginias offense has hit a rough patch at just the wrong time, and Tony Elliott is making it clear he does not see a quick-fix reset coming. The Cavaliers have dropped three of their last four games, and the production has sagged enough to prompt questions about personnel and play-calling, especially with Beau Pribula under center and Des Kitchings handling the offense.
Elliott pushed back on the idea of shaking up the structure, instead pointing to the full picture around the quarterback rather than placing the burden on one player. He cited the kind of breakdowns that can turn a drive sideways, including drops, protection issues and execution lapses, as the reasons Virginia has had trouble sustaining momentum and finding the rhythm it needs. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Offense Nears A Tough Decision As Losses Keep Mounting
As Virginia keeps coming up short in tight games, Tony Elliott is weighing more than just the next lineup card. The Cavaliers head coach said the recent run of close losses has made it clear the offense needs better play across the board, along with cleaner coaching and execution, if the team is going to turn those finishes into wins.
One of the more intriguing pieces in that conversation is backup quarterback Eli Holstein, who has made a positive impression in practice and is viewed as ready if called on. Elliott made it clear Holstein could be part of the answer if the right moment presents itself, but the larger question for Virginia is whether adding another quarterback wrinkle would actually help steady an offense still searching for the right formula. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces Another Ranked Test It Can't Afford To Let Slip
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For the Cavaliers, the challenge is not just surviving another difficult opponent but finding a cleaner offensive rhythm before the schedule tightens again. Wake Forest has been steady enough to make teams pay for mistakes, while Virginia has spent too much of late trying to claw back into games after inconsistent starts. The matchup gives the Cavaliers a chance to reset some of that, but it also asks the kind of questions that have tripped them up recently. [Read more 🡒]