The Good
- Virginia made a Second Round appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and although this wasn’t a victorious night, it was an incredibly close game. This is telling of the Hoos’ ability and willingness to play until the end.
- Chance Mallory ended his season on a high note. Throughout the game, he was all over the ball and made some stunning plays in crucial moments. He finished the matchup with 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.
The Bad
- Virginia had a handful of missed opportunities during the game, particularly in the final moments. Shots were missed, passes were interrupted and fouls were made. By the end of the game, the Cavaliers had logged seven total turnovers, which the Vols capitalized on and scored nine points off.
- Virginia is notably the most physical team in the ACC, but this was not as evident when facing the Volunteers. Of course, this was still a physical game, but the Hoos have certainly done more in previous games.
- Entering this game, the Cavaliers knew they’d be challenged on offense with Tennessee’s nagging defense. While the Hoos held up to them better than many expected, there were still key points in which the Volunteers’ pressure was simply too much for Virginia. But all things considered, Virginia played a strong game and proved just how capable they are as a program.
The Ugly
- As hard-fought as this matchup was for the Cavaliers, their loss has eliminated them from the NCAA Tournament. The Volunteers now advance to the Sweet 16 and will face Iowa State in Chicago. Despite the heartbreak, the Hoos shouldn’t be too upset—they have truly played a remarkable and memorable season under new head coach Ryan Odom. As a whole, Virginia has impressed fans near and far this year, and the goal is to see the program continue its momentum into its 2026-27 campaign.
