3. Virginia Cavaliers
2025-26 record: 30-6 (15-3)
Likely departures
- Malik Thomas (12.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg)
- Jacari White (9.4 ppg and 2.3 rpg)
- Ugonna Onyenso (6.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg)
- Dallin Hall (5.9 ppg and 4.4 apg)
- Devin Tillis (4.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg)
Likely returnees
- Thijs De Ridder (15.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg)
- Sam Lewis (10.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg)
- Chance Mallory (9.3 ppg and 3.4 apg)
- Johann Grunloh (7.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg)
Roster additions
- Jurian Dixon (15.9 ppg and 2.5 apg at UC Irvine)
- Christian Harmon (12.8 ppg and 2.5 apg at Arkansas State)
- Kalu Anya (redshirted at Saint Louis)
- Favour Ibe (4-star center prospect)
Speaking of successful first years in the ACC, Coach Odom won 30 games with the Cavaliers and is in a prime position to repeat that, bringing back everyone with eligibility for another year. That includes the frontcourt duo of De Ridder and Grunloh, along with Anya, a physical big man who’ll give them good minutes off the bench.
Virginia’s ceiling will be determined by how much of a leap Mallory takes as a sophomore. He carved out a sizable role even with those seniors in the backcourt and will be the lead guard this time around. While the next two teams have more big names, Virginia shouldn’t be discounted as a real threat to win the ACC basketball regular-season title.
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