Ryan Odom has led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament throughout his coaching career so far.<\/p>\n
Virginia is poised to be the fourth this season but the blueprint won\u2019t be the same as it has been in past years for the Cavaliers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Odom has shown the ability to adapt to the strength of his teams throughout his career. Last season, VCU won 28 games behind a top-30 defense in the sport. In Odom\u2019s final year with Utah State in 2023, the Aggies ranked just outside of the top-15 in offense – finishing at No. 16<\/a>. Leaning into offense will likely be the recipe this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n The pieces are there for UVA to be one of the best offenses not only in the ACC, but in the entire country.<\/p>\n Dallin Hall (BYU), Sam Lewis (Toledo), Jacari White (North Dakota State), Malik Thomas<\/a> (San Francisco), Devin Tillis (UC Irvine) make up the core of what might be the most underrated portal class in the nation. They all have some things in common as well – they are experienced, they\u2019ve been a part of winning and they are proven shooters. Lewis, White, Thomas and Tillis all shot 39% or higher from three a year ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lewis is the best shooter of the bunch – the junior earned All-MAC second team honors last season after averaging 16.2 points per game on 47\/44\/77<\/a> splits. The Toledo transfer is one of the best catch and shoot players in the country with a 75% effective field goal percentage and averaged 1.25<\/a> points per possession on spot up shots and 1.35 ppp on dribble handoffs \u2013 both grading over 90th percentile in college basketball. At 6\u20196\u201d, he gives UVA versatility on the wing with his ability to score off the bounce as well – Lewis had a team-high of games with 20 points scored or higher with 11 last season.<\/p>\n While Lewis led the MAC in three-point shooting, White finished second in the Summit League. The North Dakota State transfer is another versatile addition as he can play both on or off the ball offensively and instantly becomes the best perimeter defender on the roster. After earning Summit All-Defense in 2024, the expectation is that the on-ball defense will translate to the ACC level. Lewis held opponents to just 32%<\/a> shooting from the floor a year ago and averaged 17.1 points per game on the offensive end.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is an old team, even incoming freshmen Thijs De Ridder and Johann Grunloh are old. De Ridder is 22 years old – the same age as Hall who started 30 games for BYU two seasons ago –\u00a0 while Grunloh is 20. White, Thomas and Tillis are all 23 years old, it\u2019s clear that experience was a priority for Odom and usually it\u2019s the old teams who win in college basketball.<\/p>\n Virginia is going to have 4-5 shooters on the floor at all times. Grunlow connected on 32<\/a> triples in 28 games for SC Rasta Vechta in Germany while De Ridder shot 39% for Surne Bilbao in Spain. Grunlow ranked as the second-best shotblocker in the German BBL and both players are already being talked about in draft circles and should bring instant impact at the college level.\u00a0<\/p>\n White and Thomas are two of just nine players in college basketball last season who had a usage percentage over 25% and shot 39% from beyond the arc or higher on at least 175 attempts<\/a>. Thomas was one of the most sought after players in the portal after averaging 19.9 points per a game a year ago and earning first team all-WCC honors. He was one of six<\/a> players \u2013 joining John Tonje, Mark Sears, Max Shulga, Ian Martinez and Isaac McBride \u2013 to make over 65 threes and have a free throw rate over 45 last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Like Lewis, Tillis is another wing that Odom brought in that can shoot it. He\u2019s entering his fifth year of college basketball and shot 39.5% from three last year while averaging career highs in points (13.7), rebounds (7.8) and assists (2.4). Tillis is another guy that fits the mold, he can size up or down on the wing, and started in all 38 games for a UC Irvine team that ranked top-20<\/a> in defense on KenPom last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n UVA has quality depth too. Chance Mallory is a gifted shot creator who didn\u2019t get sped up at the high school level – that should translate. After missing the 2024-25 season with injury, Elijah Gertrude is back and should carve out a role. The addition of Ugonna Onyenso flew under the radar in the portal but he\u2019s shown the ability to turn into a true rim protector.\u00a0<\/p>\n Torvik projects this team as the No. 20<\/a> offense in the country and it wouldn\u2019t shock me if they finish higher.\u00a0<\/p>\n Virginia is a clear NCAA Tournament caliber team entering Odom\u2019s first year – the formula is just going to look different.\u00a0<\/p>\n