The Virginia Cavaliers, under the guidance of head coach Ryan Odom, are set to commence their NCAA Tournament journey, squaring off against Wright State in the Midwest Region. This matchup holds particular significance for Odom, whose coaching career saw him previously lead a 16-seed team to an improbable victory over Virginia in the tournament. Now, at the helm of the Cavaliers, a 3-seed, Odom seeks to propel his team past recent tournament disappointments, employing a revitalized offensive approach that emphasizes perimeter shooting.
Eight years prior, Ryan Odom etched his name in NCAA Tournament lore by orchestrating the first-ever upset of a No. 1 seed by a No. 16 seed. The team on the receiving end of that historic defeat was none other than Virginia. Fast forward to the present, Odom's narrative has come full circle. In his inaugural year as the Cavaliers' head coach, he not only guided them back to the tournament but also brought them tantalizingly close to an ACC tournament championship. This time, however, the roles are reversed; Odom's Virginia squad, entering as the No. 3 seed, is the favored team, preparing to face the No. 14 seed Wright State on Friday afternoon.
Following their unexpected exit eight years ago, Virginia mounted a remarkable comeback the subsequent year, clinching the national title. Nevertheless, the team has struggled to replicate that success in subsequent NCAA Tournaments, experiencing first-round upsets against Ohio and Furman in 2021 and 2023, respectively, and suffering a decisive loss to Colorado State in the 2024 First Four. These challenges predated the surprising retirement of long-time coach Tony Bennett before the 2024-25 season. Under Odom, who arrived with a proven track record of leading Utah State and VCU to the NCAA Tournament, Virginia has demonstrated a significant improvement, registering 14 more victories than their single season under interim coach Ron Sanchez.
Odom expressed the importance of team cohesion, stating, "It's tremendous. You have to have that trust between coaches and players. My best teams, we've had that." The Cavaliers now exhibit a slightly quicker tempo than during Bennett's tenure, while still maintaining impressive adjusted offensive and defensive ratings, ranking within the top 30 according to KenPom.com. A notable shift in their playing style is an increased propensity for 3-point attempts, with 46.5% of their field-goal attempts originating from beyond the arc. Eight players on the roster have successfully converted at least 20 three-pointers this season.
In the ACC championship game against top-ranked Duke, Virginia narrowly fell 74-70. Malik Thomas contributed 18 points, and Sam Lewis added 17. Thomas and Jacari White, the sixth man, lead the team with 61 three-pointers each, while Thijs De Ridder stands out with an average of 15.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Wright State (23-11), a formidable Horizon League champion, presents a challenging first-round opponent. Teams from the Horizon League have a history of causing upsets in the tournament, such as Oakland's victory over third-seeded Kentucky two years ago and 15th-seeded Robert Morris's strong showing against Alabama last year.
Odom acknowledged the quality of their upcoming adversary, remarking, "We know we're playing a really good team. You get to this time of year, you're going to play a team that's won a lot of games and believes in itself." Despite being underestimated in the Horizon League preseason poll, where they were picked seventh, Wright State has been on a hot streak, winning seven of their last eight games, securing the regular-season title, and triumphing over Northern Kentucky and Detroit Mercy in the conference tournament.
Raiders coach Clint Sargent conveyed a confident message to his fans at the selection party: "To all our fans, we're young, and we're just crazy enough to go win a couple games in Philly." This ambition is not entirely unfounded, as Wright State boasts a national ranking of 55th in 3-point percentage (36.1%) and 88th in offensive rebounding percentage (33.2), attributes often associated with teams capable of tournament upsets. Seven different players have led Wright State in scoring at least once this season. The team's leading scorer is freshman Michael Cooper, averaging 13.4 points per game. TJ Burch, the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and tournament MVP, contributed 19 points in the title game, averaging 12.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals.
Burch expressed his excitement to the Dayton Daily News, stating, "It just keeps getting better and better. I'm excited. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We're going to go up there and get a win."
In summary, Ryan Odom's return to the NCAA Tournament with Virginia signifies a pivotal moment for both the coach and the program. Having navigated a challenging first year to bring the Cavaliers back to the postseason, Odom faces a Wright State team that, despite being a lower seed, possesses the potential for an upset. The Cavaliers' revamped offensive strategy, coupled with the team's renewed confidence, sets the stage for an intriguing opening-round contest as they aim to leave their past tournament struggles behind.