No. 14 Virginia is off to its best start since the 2018-19 season, which culminated with a national championship under former head coach Tony Bennett.
The Cavaliers (16-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) will honor Bennett before Saturday’s matinee against No. 22 North Carolina (15-4, 3-3), adding his name to the court at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va.
The three-time national Coach of the Year compiled a 364-136 record in 15 seasons at Virginia before he retired abruptly ahead of the 2024-25 season. The Cavaliers struggled to a 15-17 record under interim coach Ron Sanchez but are thriving with a reconstructed roster of freshmen and transfers under first-year coach Ryan Odom.
Bennett’s title team got off to a 16-0 start. Odom’s Cavaliers are on a five-game winning streak and are 10-0 this season at home as they prepare for their stiffest challenge to date against the rival Tar Heels.
“Oh man, that’s going to be a special day,” Odom said this week. “We’re all excited for him and all of his staff that worked so hard to put Virginia basketball in an unbelievable position, a national championship position. And all of his former players, for them to see this.”
The Cavaliers, who are 1-0 against ranked teams this season, should be rested and ready after a weeklong layoff. This is their only home date in a five-game stretch that began with road wins at then-No. 20 Louisville on Jan. 13 and at SMU on Jan. 17.
Thijs De Ridder leads Virginia with 16.1 points per contest. Malik Thomas adds 13.6 points and Chance Mallory is averaging 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals off the bench.
The Cavaliers have knocked down 190 3-pointers at a 37.1% clip, compared to 115 on 28.9% shooting for their opponents.
North Carolina has struggled since a 13-1 start. The Tar Heels are 2-1 against ranked foes but have dropped all three of their road games in ACC play, losing at SMU by 14 points on Jan. 3, at Stanford by five on Jan. 14 and at Cal by six on Jan. 17.
North Carolina is coming off a 91-69 home win against Notre Dame on Wednesday. Caleb Wilson scored a game-high 22 points and Henri Veesaar delivered a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Tar Heels made a season-high 13 3-pointers against the Fighting Irish, a result coach Hubert Davis accredited to selflessness and ball movement.
“I always believe I want the ball to touch the paint through post or penetration,” Davis told the Tar Heel Sports Network. “That’s what generates the good 3s. We entered the post, drew two defenders, and a number of times we had a good shot and made an extra pass to a great shot.”
Wilson leads UNC in scoring (19.8) and rebounding (10.4) and is shooting 58.4% from the field. Frontcourt partner Veesaar is right behind him with 17.1 points and 9.2 boards per game. Seth Trimble added 14 points but was held to single digits for the first time this season with five against Notre Dame.
North Carolina defeated Virginia 81-66 in last season’s meeting on Feb. 22, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
