Fwiw, the UVa hoops schedule site now says itâs on ESPN+, as well, so maybe we just didnât think this tweet-worthy.
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still trying to sell those travel packages til the last second
Nice⌠when I checked this morning, it did not say that. So that is an update.
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Anyone want to supply a Vanderbilt preview? I canât seem to find a ton online itâs still so early (are we the very first exhibition?)
Basket Under Review team previews has them Men's Basketball 15:
Key Returners:
Tyler Tanner, Tyler Tanner a second time, Chandler Bing
Key Newcomers:
Ace Glass III, Berke Buyuktuncel, Bangot Dak, Gabe Nesmith, T.O. Barrett, Sebastian Williams-Adams, Ethan Mgbako, Ant Brown Jr.
Key Losses:
Duke Miles, Tyler Nickel, AK Okereke, Devin McGlockton, Jalen Washington, Frankie Collins, Tyler Harris
Roster:
Reasons for Optimism:
We donât do these articles necessarily looking two or three yea, but go through a thought exercise with me. Are we 100% certain Mark Byington wonât be seen as the best SEC head coach in 2030?
Our friends at Basketball Quant, a site I am begging you to bookmark before November, have Byington second-best over the last four years behind one Dusty May in delivering wins above expected based on box score stats. He ranks as a top-10 portal recruiter adjusted for school level and a top-40 developer out of 527 qualifying coaches. If you prefer actual âwhat has he doneâ analysis, how about delivering Vandyâs highest KenPom finish ever (11th), their first Tournament win since 2012, their first back-to-back Tournament bids in a decade, and being the very rare coach to own the best KenPom ranking at three different programs (James Madison, '23-24 and Georgia Southern, '18-19)? Iâm going to wager Byington is simply very, very good at what he does.
This is already threatening my Tennessee degree and credentials, so Iâll stop short of declaring him the best now, but heâs well on his way. Byington has beaten his KenPom preseason ranking four straight years and five of the last six. Weâll see whatâs closer to the truth between 3MW (#15) and Torvik (#24), but either way, itâs probably wise to expect Vandy to at least match their seed from a year ago. The case for optimism starts as it should for literally everyone seeing the roster: Tyler Tanner, inexplicably, is back.
Inexplicably isnât because I fell for the fallacy of Tanner somehow entering the portal, but because Tanner consistently ranks in the 5-15 range of NBA Draft minds I trust in this yearâs loaded class (projected 25th-30th on average). Is it a wise bet to come back and hope you actually do become a lottery pick in a much less loaded class? Perhaps, but itâs best for Vanderbilt above all. In terms of players returning to college basketball this season, Tanner has the highest Box Plus-Minus at +11.4 (the same as lottery pick Kingston Flemings) and is one of just three players (Braden Huff at Gonzaga and Terrence Hill, Jr. at Tennessee) to post a +7 or higher BPM to go with a 125+ ORtg on 25%+ or higher Usage%.
I think itâs important to note his top high-major statistical comps: guys like JaâKobi Gillespie, Jacob Pullen, Mark Sears. Brilliant players, one and all, and what a blessing it is for Vandy to get that level of player back for another go.
Beyond the obvious in Tanner, Vandy should be able to get themselves out of any late-clock snafus this year by adding Ace Glass III from Washington State. Per CBB Analytics, Glass nearly doubled second-place Rihards Vavers (140 to 79) in shots in the final 10 seconds of the shot clock last year amongst Wazzu players; when said shots resulted in 64% from 2 and 37% from 3, youâre clearly doing something right. The backcourt pairing of Tanner and Glass is electrifying and should provide Vandy fans with a lot of fun moments this season.
Iâm less enamored by the options Vandy has in the frontcourt and at the 3 this year, but thereâs still several items to get behind. Bangot Dak is an excellent rim protector; with him on the court last year, Coloradoâs defense was six points better per 100 and held opponents to 54% at the rim (62% in all other lineups). Berke Buyuktuncel is arguably one of the best all-around defenders in college basketball and holds up very well whether on the perimeter, down low, or anywhere else. (Iâd also call him a good add from the sense that he rarely wants to shoot, which will allow Tanner and Glass to suck up more possessions.)
Vanderbilt has done the job of finding two strong perimeter scorers and two awesome defenders. (Tanner would make this three, by the way.) That latter number is above any number they produced last year. So: whatâs the downside?
Causes for Concern:
For one, you have to play basketball with five players on the court. I like all of Tanner, Glass, Buyuktuncel, and Dak. I just canât figure out who fits with them. The options on the bench with the most well-known experience are either Missouri transfer T.O. Barrett or Auburn transfer Sebastian Williams-Adams, but neither fit with the backcourt particularly well. Barrettâs shot diet is mostly downhill rim attacks, which (to me) doesnât pair well with Glass or Tanner, although I like him as a defender. SWA is larger and better all-around, and as a bonus, he doesnât take many shots. But I question how much Byington, an analytically-savvy guy, wants to spend time with three guys (Buyuktuncel, Dak, and SWA) who arenât good shooters or wonât shoot threes.
That leaves three options to me that would âfitâ in the traditional sense. All are 6â5" or 6â6", and none have extensive experience playing heavy minutes. Two are true freshmen. Gabe Nesmith is the most hyped option here, a top-40 recruit from the 2027 class who reclassified to 2026 and is Aaron Nesmithâs cousin. Unsurprisingly, given the last name, Nesmith is offense-first, and Iâve really liked what Iâve seen in terms of his driving ability, which would give Vandy an option at the 3 that can score from all three levels.
Surprisingly, given the last name, heâs not yet a consistent deep threat. High school stats are insanely hard to nail down, but at Synergy, theyâve got him at 55-198 (27.8%) from deep over the last two years. His shot is overly mechanical for my liking, and while that can (and should) get worked out over a couple of years in college, it doesnât inspire me to want him playing huge minutes, especially given that every scouting report you can find says something to the effect of ânot yetâ on the defensive end.
If itâs not Nesmith, Chandler Bing (not the TV guy) would be next up. Bing played a bench role last year and was thoroughly okay. He is an okay shooter, an okay defender, and perhaps all that changes given a year of development, but we donât know that yet. The other option I can think of here would maybe be Ethan Mgbako, a top-75 recruit that adores midrange twos but is a very good shooter and, hey, projects to be a good defender. Again, though: how badly do you want a midrange-dominant wing who scouts largely seem to believe is a year away from being a starter-level piece?
In general Iâve got depth and shooting concerns here. I have serious trust in Byington to get the most out of what heâs got, but a scenario exists here where Vanderbilt can only play about 7-deep most of the season, and that makes you an injury away from some major problems. I wish theyâd found a third strong shooter, especially at the 3 or 4, to go with Tanner and Glass. Getting to this point and relying on one of three highly varying options to start for you is a little surprising given how smart Vandy is, but to be honest, I have to wonder if much of their NIL budget was spent on Tanner and Glass and theyâve had to Moneyball some other aspects of this roster. [Also: who is backing up Buyuktuncel and Dak? I think SWA can and should, and maybe Jackson Sheffield (who I think is pretty underrated) or Jayden Leverett (who I do not) can do it, but I think Vanderbiltâs most-missed player this year will be Devin McGlockton, who could play four positions if needed.]
Vanderbilt fans wonât like seeing this comparison, but what this team reminds me of is last yearâs Tennessee team: two top-tier individual scorers, two excellent defenders, and a constant rotating cast of Fifth Starter of the Week without much shooting outside of those two scorers. That team was exceptionally frustrating to watch, lost several games they shouldnât have, and went into the Tournament having lost four of six. They also made the Elite Eight. March is funny that way.
Bottom Line:
As long as Mark Byington is at the wheel, Iâm going to like just about anything Vandy puts on the court. The âDores have an excellent tactician on the sidelines, a legitimate POTY candidate, a top-tier secondary scorer, and a heavily improved defense I think could be top 15 or so in the nation. If they can answer their starting lineup questions effectively, #15 may end up being too low. If they canât? 2025-26 Tennessee, people. Iâm tellinâ ya.
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Here is the 3MW preview, but itâs paywalled:
Hereâs the projected lineup:
(Sorry, @wahoobelinda beat me to it!)
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Did anyone post this for when they previewed us?
Ah I see you did already. Thanks!
They seriously have a player named Chandler Bing?
Yes, but I will just post it again. No graphs though. They had us #10:
Key Returners:
Chance Mallory, Thijs de Ridder, Johann GrĂźnloh, Sam Lewis
Key Newcomers:
Jurian Dixon, Christian Harmon, Jan Vide
Key Losses:
Malik Thomas, Dallin Hall, Jacari White, Ugonna Onyenso, Devin Tillis
Roster:
Reasons for Optimism:
Ryan Odom enjoyed an incredible Year 1 at Virginia, ending 17th in KenPom after being ranked 59th in the preseason, finishing 15-3 in the ACC, and earning a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was UVAâs best team since the 2019 championship squad, and bigger and better things are on the horizon. Odom welcomes back three starters plus a burgeoning star in Chance Mallory. Real expectations have been saddled on his shoulders, and Bart Torvik has them (gasp) #3 in the country.
Odomâs resume is impeccable. Heâs made the NCAA Tournament at four different schools and has outperformed his KenPom preseason rank nine out of ten seasons, including six straight. His offenses feature a ton of spacing and shooting with a spread pick-n-roll approach. The Hoosâ shot selection was terrific last year, and they crushed the offensive glass at a top-10 rate. Both should remain strengths in 2026-27.
Defensively, Odom teams take away the 3, and last yearâs UVA squad led the ACC in 2P% allowed, 3P% allowed, and block rate â a deadly combination. Rim protection was elite and should remain strong even with the loss of Ugonna Onyenso, and Odom will likely extend pressure once again. His Hoos were top five nationally in press rate last season.
Virginia will have one of the best frontcourts in the country with sophomore tandem Thijs De Ridder and Johann GrĂźnloh back in the fold. De Ridder was 1st Team All-ACC last season and is an absolute stud â one of the best players in the country, full stop. Heâs versatile, strong, and an asset on both sides of the ball. His ability to shoot, put the ball on the deck, bully into the paint, and post makes him unstoppable on the offensive end, and he should push for All-American honors in March. How is he a sophomore when he turns 24 in January? Donât think about it, silly!
GrĂźnloh is a monster center who ranked second in the ACC in block rate last year (to his own teammate). Stretchy on offense, GrĂźnloh can step out from behind the arc but also possesses deft touch around the paint and rim. Heâll be one of the best two-way players in the ACC this season.
Sam Lewis is the third returning Cav starter, an unsung glue piece from last seasonâs squad. Heâs a great outside shooter â over 41% for his career â and fills his role while adding size to the wing at 6-7. There arenât many better â4th best playersâ in the country than Lewis.
Chance Mallory is the key. He showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie season, showing poise with a high assist rate and low turnover rate and overwhelming quickness. Mallory has the âswagger factorâ that allows smaller guards to excel in college basketball, and his evolution will determine Virginiaâs ceiling this season. If he ascends into a 1st Team All-Conference or even All-American caliber player, the Hoos are likely a 1-seed.
In the world of the crazy transfer portal, having essentially four starters back from a top-20 team gives Virginia a massive leg up on its competition.
Causes for Concern:
If Mallory doesnât live up to his astronomical hype, Virginiaâs guard play becomes questionable. To boot, Odom didnât bring in the most fearsome transfer class â itâs one that was meant to fill roles but not necessarily star.
Jurian Dixon, Christian Harmon, Kalu Anya, and Jan Vide were plucked from the portal to help fill niches around Odomâs four studs. Dixon filled it up for UC Irvine across two seasons, earning the Big Westâs Freshman of the Year award in 2025 and 1st Team All-Conference last season. He can shoot, score, and bring decent size to the 2-guard position. More importantly, he can defend (comes from UCI, makes sense) and give Virginia a terrifying press tip alongside Mallory. But can he step up effectively to ACC competition? Dixon has played against zero Power conference teams in two seasons (yes, really).
Harmon was a JUCO All-American in 2025 and earned 3rd Team All-Sun Belt honors at Arkansas State last year. He adds versatility to the wing with ball skills and a strong outside-shooting track record at high volume. Heâll be a nice backup to Lewis and can fit into bigger lineups alongside Lewis at the 2.
Anya spent two years at Brown and two years at SLU, redshirting last season with the Billikens. A mega rebounder, Anya will fit a board role off the pine as he fills minutes behind De Ridder and GrĂźnloh at the 4 and 5. Vide, the much-hyped UCLA prospect back in 2023, spent the past two seasons at LMU, where he was a starter last year. He still carries mega potential and can run the Hoo offense like a point guard. Heâs yet another solid backup and brings a different look to the attack with his 6-6 frame.
Odomâs remaining roster pieces are largely unproven. Elijah Gertrude, a former top 50 recruit, hasnât played much and sat entirely with injury in 2024-25. Martin Carrere redshirted at VCU under Odom and played a little last year. Nolan Adekunle, a late June addition, is a 24-year-old German wing with 3 & D potential. Favour Ibe is a top 150 4-star center, a backup behind Anya on the depth chart. Silas Barksdale, a top 100 recruit in 2025 and a redshirt last year, is a bulldog rebounder.
Bottom Line:
Virginiaâs ceiling is a national championship. Ryan Odom has done a phenomenal job getting the program back in order after it was mired in mediocrity following 2019. Few, if any, elite teams across the country have as much production returning, and the Hoos have the luxury of employing not one but two rising stars in De Ridder and Mallory.
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It a source of endless humor for the announcers of every game. 
Seems all the talking heads are on the Mallory hype train. I love watching Chance play and I hope they are right, but since none have actually seen him play since the end of the last season, sure seems like they are expecting a huge jump this year. I get it that he will most likely be a better player and in the middle of everything we do but I think what they are calling for is unlikely. He can do half of the hype and still have made great strides.
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Ya⌠however as a Vandy fan Iâm sure it is as tiresome as the Poca Dots w/ McKneely. Haha!
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Or Mike London was a cop
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Crazy how this stuff snowballs. Beginning of the offseason being high on Chance meant he could be 3rd team All ACC. Now there are national writers saying potential All American. Think heâll get there by his 5th year but this season seems premature
Itâs really the biggest question of this season and the next few seasons: whatâs Chanceâs ceiling and when does he get there?
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Chance is awesome but Iâd bet a lot that he wonât be an all American this year.
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If he is⌠he will be calmly breathing on the court and stop drifting when he elevates on some of his long range shots.
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My guess is that is why they spent the offseason getting his weight down, and working hard on conditioning. Odom says he is in the best shape of his basketball career. They want to prevent some of those late-game issues, and prepare him for more minutes, I assume. The little I have seen of him he looks really good
All American would shock me, but All ACC is not just attainable it should be an expectation.
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His Hoop Explorer comps page is interesting, lots of players who were very impactful at the college level.
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