Can We Have an Honest Conversation About UVA Basketball Again?

Can we have an honest conversation about Virginia basketball?

Because for the past few seasons, even when wins came, something felt off. The program never fell apart. The standard never disappeared. But if we’re being honest, recent versions of UVA basketball often felt under-talented compared to the best of the ACC and the country. Solid. Disciplined. Competitive. But not dangerous. Not the kind of team that made elite opponents uneasy or felt like a real threat in March.

That feeling is gone.

This Virginia team under Ryan Odom is different—and not in subtle ways. It’s fun. It’s fresh. It’s modern. It plays with pace and confidence. Players take shots without worrying about being yanked if they miss. Guards attack gaps. The ball moves freely. There’s trust in the system and belief in one another, and it shows in how relaxed and aggressive this team looks on the floor.

That alone makes this group refreshing.

But the real difference is talent—and the depth of it. This roster has more high-end talent than Virginia has had since at least 2020, and probably since the 2019 championship era fully turned over. Not just one guy carrying the load, but multiple players who can impact winning in different ways on different nights.

Start with Tjes De Ridder.

De Ridder looks like a future professional. His size, shot-making, and feel for the game immediately stand out. He doesn’t force the issue. He lets the game come to him. When Virginia needs a basket, he looks comfortable being that guy. UVA simply hasn’t had many players with this kind of offensive versatility in recent years, and his presence changes how opponents have to defend.

Inside, the pairing of Johan Grunloh and Uga Onyenso gives Virginia something it hasn’t had in a long time—a true two-headed shot-blocking monster at center.

Grunloh is still figuring out the American game. The pace is faster. The physicality is different. The spacing demands quick decisions. But even while adjusting, his impact is real. He blocks shots. He alters drives. He finishes around the rim when guards create space. And every now and then, he steps out and knocks down a three, offering a glimpse of what his ceiling might look like once everything clicks. He’s not a finished product—but he’s already affecting games.

Paired with him is Onyenso, whose defensive presence is immediate and imposing. He protects the rim, deters penetration, and changes how teams attack the paint. When one checks out and the other checks in, the level of rim protection barely drops. That’s a luxury few ACC teams can match, and it allows Virginia to stay aggressive defensively for a full 40 minutes.

On the perimeter, Sam Lewis and Chance Mallory provide shooting, confidence, and toughness. Even on nights when the shots don’t fall, Lewis still impacts the game by driving the ball, defending, and staying engaged. Mallory continues to grow into a guard who understands pace, spacing, and winning basketball. These aren’t one-dimensional players—they’re pieces that fit.

And that’s the key: this team fits.

Virginia is winning ACC games comfortably while not even fully healthy. Jacari White, arguably the best pure shooter on a team full of good shooters, has been out, yet the offense hasn’t stalled. Most teams lose that kind of spacing and immediately feel it. This group doesn’t. Someone else steps up. The system holds. The confidence stays intact.

That speaks to both roster construction and Ryan Odom’s approach.

And maybe the most important thing of all is that none of this has come at the expense of defense. This team can really guard. The communication is sharp. The rotations are connected. The effort is relentless. Stanford didn’t just struggle offensively—they were forced into six shot-clock violations. That’s elite defense. That’s Virginia defense.

The difference now is that the offense no longer feels like it’s dragging a piano uphill. There’s flow. There’s rhythm. There’s belief. When this team builds a lead, it doesn’t just protect it—it extends it.

This is a dangerous team.

Not a “tough out.” Not a “nice story.” A legitimate contender. The kind of team that can beat you multiple ways, win in different environments, and make every ACC opponent uncomfortable—especially when fully healthy.

And emotionally? It feels so good to feel this again.

For the first time in a while, Virginia basketball doesn’t feel like it’s clinging to the past. It feels alive. It feels confident. It feels forward-looking. Ryan Odom hasn’t abandoned what made UVA great—he’s evolved it. The defense is still elite. The discipline is still there. But now it’s paired with freedom, talent, and belief.

This isn’t nostalgia.

This isn’t wishful thinking.

This is a legitimately dangerous Virginia basketball team.

And it feels oh so good to feel this feeling again.