🏀 Virginia vs Hampton, Tuesday, 11 November 2025, 2100, ACCN

[tonyburnertt]

@MaineWahoo

Also wondering if we’ll ever execute the trap out of the press. Multiple times Hampton passed the ball to a guy near the corner and we had a second defender close who could have doubled up, but we didn’t. Would be a nice wrinkle to throw in sometimes but if we aren’t practicing it when up 30+, not sure we’re going to roll it out in a real game.

My guess would be they’re absolutely planning on it but don’t see a reason to put it on tape yet.

[dave92]

Chance is most reminiscent of Kihei when he’s defending the man bringing the ball up the floor. Totally hounds the poor guy. Chance just has so much energy and intensity.

[NorVaHoo]

I keep waiting for Chance to look like a rookie, but it’s not happening. Who was the last freshman to look this comfortable and in command of play for UVA? So far he seems to have all the best elements of Kihei’s pesky defense, ball handling of London or Reese, shooting of London or Ty, and attacking the rim (with shoulder into the chest of defender) of Jontel Evans. There will no doubt be off-nights, but that guy plays like he’s in charge.

[newjerseyhoo]

Really hard to draw conclusions from these early-season games against inferior competition. I think it’s clear that De Ridder and Chance are for real. Ugo and Grünloh have huge upside. I just don’t know what to think about everyone else. Lewis and White and Thomas can bury threes – and don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have multiple reliable three-point shooters – but when they’re not spotting up and getting open looks, they don’t seem to make much of an impact. We’ve got a lot of solid role players. We’ll see when the competition steps up whether that’s enough.

[Jerome]

Onyenso is one of the most instinctual shot blockers I’ve ever watched. He has great double jump ability (to borrow a Zach Lowe phrase) where he can bite on the pump fake but still gets right back up on the second bounce to block the shot. It’s a huge skill

[newjerseyhoo]

Onyenso reminds me in some ways of a taller Mamadi.

[NakedIcarus]

@newjerseyhoo

Lewis and White and Thomas can bury threes – and don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have multiple reliable three-point shooters – but when they’re not spotting up and getting open looks, they don’t seem to make much of an impact. We’ve got a lot of solid role players.

I think you can get away with Lewis/White as interchangeable spot up three point specialists if you have Hall as an experienced floor general with De Ridder and Grünloh/Ugo in the paint. That’s tough to guard if – and this hasn’t been true yet – you’ve also got a dynamic guard/wing who can attack or shoot. Someone the defense has to guard all the time. Because that means if someone helps defend De Ridder, you’ve got an open look somewhere. And De Ridder is savvy enough to find him.

That’s what we thought we got in Thomas. That’s really the missing piece. Thomas has been a disappointment on both ends of the floor. Three games in and he’s shooting 30% from the floor and 25% from deep. And his defense is awful. But he’s clearly trying to work it out. You saw him yesterday when his shot wasn’t dropping, he attacked and drew fouls. I keep hoping it’s going to click for him at some point.

If Thomas gets it together, this team has a really dangerous offense.

[SGHoo]

Trilly just put in a Diane to Houston prediction unfortunately

[Hoohoohoo]

@MaineWahoo

I still think he’s one of our better perimeter defenders but felt like he got a little sloppy yesterday.

He may be one of the better on the team, but a bit disappointed that he seems to continue to struggle off ball and seems to get caught behind a lot of plays. Has impacted rebounding as well as led to points/fouls. Has the physical tools but still needs to work on the mental.

Chance is actually more sound. His issue so far has been with switches. Seems to be out of synch on a couple, didn’t hurt us last night but noticed a couple times he left his man and was lucky to have a teammate recover for him or Hampton not identify.

Malik has been a mix of the two. Fell asleep a little on defense (although noticeably more engaged last night). It’s an effort for him but generally stayed in front.

Jacari looked probably to be our worst perimeter defender last night. Will leave it at that.

I don’t recall any thing good or bad with Hall’s defense which is probably a good thing.

[EricD]

This. Watching this team is jarring for fans accustomed to CTB’s schemes on both O and D. Much more frenetic, which inevitably will lead to some bad possessions on both ends. But look at our made shot charts. It’s basically 3s and dunks/layups. That’s analytics gold, especially in college where incredibly few guys have a great midrange game. Add in offensive rebounds, and that’s double gold, and triple if turnovers stay down. Defense? Let’s see if the 1-on-1 cleans up, but we already look like an elite shot blocking team.

[zh00s]

@MaineWahoo

Only real concern for me is Thomas. I know folks point out his stat line was solid - so that’s good - but actually watching him possession after possession I don’t think he looked comfortable out there. Apart from one three, felt like he was having to force things outside the flow of the offense. And his defense is… not ideal yet.

Seconding this. I counted at least 3 plays where his head just wasn’t in it and he lost his man which led directly to a bucket. One in transition on an outlet pass, and two in halfcourt. And I wasn’t watching super closely. On one play I saw him turn to Odom and sort of shrug/gesture that it wasn’t his fault. Kinda suggests that they’ve talked about this before.

You never know what’s going on, but putting together his offense and defense I wonder if there’s some stuff going on his head. It’s easy to roll when you are the lone top dawg and you aren’t rethinking your role. Still … the defense is just focus and paying attention - that’s it.

[EmbracePaceUVA]

I for one have zero concerns about Malik Thomas.

[zh00s]

Second reflection watching on replay: Carrere is a NASTY passer. He made two dimes that led to buckets. Great vision. Hopefully he’ll stick next year.

[zh00s]

I’m not concerned. Our team is playing well. Just observing what is obvious, which is different than pre-season expectations to date. So, notable.

[MaineWahoo]

Yeah I’m not really worried about Thomas. He’s done enough at the D1 level that I think he’ll be fine and probably pretty good for us later in the season. Am just noting he’s seemingly struggled so far and I hope he figures it out sooner rather than later. Also have maybe adjusted my expectations for his ceiling down just a little, but not that much, and it was a high ceiling to begin with.

[AdventiveQuasar]

I’m ready to eat some crow on Sam Lewis. Wasn’t sure how he’d translate, but he looks great in an off-ball role hunting catch-and-shoot 3s and getting some blow-by drives when he sees his man selling out to take away the 3. He’s probably not going to sit at 85% eFG for the year (lol) but the role fit has been good. Looks a little cleaner on defense too; he’s not a havoc creator but his attention to detail has been getting better.

Chance is creating some havoc, he’s at a 7.4% steal rate, which is top-50 nationally. He’s also got a big-man foul rate at 6 fouls/40 mins.

[CSL66]

I’m hardly and expert, but is it possible that our best defensive team is Chance, Eli, the 2 bigs and Lewis? Could we expect to see this when we need stops? The good thing about this team is that it’s depth allows a lot of situational combinations.

[NakedIcarus]

@AdventiveQuasar

I’m ready to eat some crow on Sam Lewis. Wasn’t sure how he’d translate, but he looks great in an off-ball role hunting catch-and-shoot 3s and getting some blow-by drives when he sees his man selling out to take away the 3. He’s probably not going to sit at 85% eFG for the year (lol) but the role fit has been good. Looks a little cleaner on defense too; he’s not a havoc creator but his attention to detail has been getting better.

I was also a doubter. I thought White would start and Lewis would come in off the bench. In the first two games, Lewis looked really passive. But yesterday he started to show more of his game. And you can’t argue with the results: he’s shooting about 60% from three and chipping in 11 points per game.

[MaineWahoo]

@Hoohoohoo

Chance is actually more sound.

Not to over hype him cause I think we all agree he’s looked good, but I think Chance also just has that intangible “it” or “nose for the ball”. The stuff you can’t teach. He just finds ways to make an impact and finds the ball in contested situations despite being so small. Last night I think he made three or four plays (snatching a ball out of a guys hands, diving on the ball for a tie up, etc) that make you to “Ok, you’re just a gamer” to try and use all the cliched phrases.

[Foresthoo]

Agree. I could see he’s coming out party at the Greenbrier.