The Virginia Cavaliers kick off their season Friday at 5:00 PM ET on the ACC Network, and they are bringing serious heat, starting the year ranked No. 9 in the AP Preseason Poll. This isn’t just some casual opener, it’s the highest UVA has been ranked to start a season since their No. 4 slot back in 2020-21, and the hoops world is buzzing about what these ‘Hoos are cooking up. They haven’t been in the AP Top-25 preseason since 2022-23, when they were No. 18, so this No. 9 spot is a massive statement of intent, especially after finishing last year with just two votes in the preseason poll and landing at 17th.
Meet Your Recharged Cavaliers
So, who are these guys getting all this hype? A huge part of it comes down to continuity. UVA retained 10 of their 11 possible players from the 2025-26 squad. That’s a massive win! We’re talking about three returning starters in Thijs De Ridder, Johann Grünloh, and Sam Lewis, plus their crucial sixth-man, Chance Mallory, all back in the fold. De Ridder, an All-ACC first-team honoree last season, was a scoring machine with 15.6 points per game. Lewis added 10.6 ppg, Mallory chipped in 9.3 ppg, and Grünloh contributed 7.1 ppg, with all four being among Virginia’s top six scorers in 2025-26. Mallory also snagged an NABC East All-District Team nod, so you know this backcourt is ready to roll. Elijah Gertrude, Martin Carrere, Carter Lang, Silas Barksdale, Desmond Roberts, and Owen Odom are also back, giving this team some serious depth.
But wait, there’s more! UVA isn’t just relying on their vets. They’ve welcomed eight new faces to Charlottesville. That includes four transfers: Jurian Dixon from UC Irvine, Kalu Anya from St. Louis, Jan Vide from Loyola Marymount, and Christian Harmon from Arkansas State. Plus, they’ve got European import Nolan Adekunle joining from VET CONCEPT Gladiators Trier. Rounding out the newcomers are first-year center Favour Ibe and preferred walk-ons Nick Rotter and Quincy Watson. This mix of experienced talent and fresh blood could be dangerous.
A Rivalry, Redefined by a Massive Spread
Now, let’s talk about Friday’s matchup against Northeastern. Historically, UVA holds a 2-0 advantage over the Huskies. The last time these two squared off was December 16, 2023, at John Paul Jones Arena, and it was a nail-biter. UVA, then ranked No. 22, barely escaped with a 56-54 win thanks to a clutch driving layup from Reece Beekman. Beekman went off for a career-high 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting, plus he tacked on six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, pulling the Cavaliers back from a 30-24 halftime deficit. Jake Groves added eight points, and Leon Bond III chipped in six. Northeastern’s Joe Pridgen led his team with 11 points and a game-high 13 boards. UVA was efficient that game, logging 19 points off turnovers and only committing five of their own. Before that, you have to go all the way back to November 24, 1989, when UVA crushed Northeastern 82-60.
Flash forward to Friday, and the oddsmakers are seeing a completely different game. The spread for this season opener is UVA -34.5! That’s not just a big number, that’s a statement. It tells you everything about the confidence in this Cavaliers squad and how much they’ve elevated since that tight 2023 contest.
This Friday’s 5:00 PM ET game isn’t just an opener, it’s a statement game for a team eyeing a deep run. With a No. 9 ranking and a loaded roster, how they handle a massive spread against a familiar foe will set the tone for the entire season. Get ready for some high-level hoops.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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