No. 14 Cavaliers Face No. 22 Tar Heels in Charlottesville
Virginia’s dominant home record faces its stiffest test as the 16-2 Cavaliers host North Carolina in an Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry game Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. The matchup carries special significance, with UVA basketball honoring former coach Tony Bennett by adding his name to the court—a tribute to the legendary coach who led the program to a national championship in 2018-19.
The Cavaliers (5-1 ACC) are riding a five-game winning streak and have not lost at home this season, entering at 10-0 inside their arena. Led by Thijs De Ridder’s 16.1 points per game, UVA basketball has emerged as one of the ACC’s strongest teams, knocking down 190 three-pointers at a 37.1% clip. The Cavaliers enter as 6.5-point favorites against the visiting Tar Heels.
UNC Basketball Looks to Bounce Back on Road
North Carolina basketball (15-4, 3-3 ACC) arrives in Charlottesville seeking to reverse troubling road trends. The Tar Heels have dropped all three of their ACC away games this season, falling to SMU, Stanford, and Cal by a combined 25 points. However, UNC basketball showed offensive firepower in its most recent outing, defeating Notre Dame 91-69 at home Wednesday with 13 three-pointers.
Caleb Wilson continues to anchor the North Carolina basketball offense, averaging team-leading 19.8 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 58.4% from the field. Frontcourt partner Henri Veesaar adds 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest. The Tar Heels hold a 1-0 record against ranked opponents this season and beat Virginia 81-66 in last year’s matchup on February 22, 2025.
Virginia Seeks Statement Win
For UVA basketball, this represents the program’s best start since the 2018-19 championship season. Head coach Ryan Odom’s squad is 1-0 against ranked opponents and enters with momentum following road wins at then-No. 20 Louisville and SMU. Virginia basketball’s depth extends beyond De Ridder, with Malik Thomas averaging 13.6 points and Chance Mallory contributing 10.1 points off the bench.
North Carolina basketball will have Isaiah Denis available after being listed as probable, though James Brown remains sidelined. The Tar Heels are seeking to improve their ACC record after their 13-1 nonconference start gave way to inconsistent conference play. Where to watch North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball vs. Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball: The game tips off at 12:00 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
