Per ESPN notifications, "VCU coach Dave Odom has emerged as the target for the Virginia job, and a deal is expected in the coming days."

Checking in on UVa's basketball search---

Not a ton of new information to report, really. Things are quiet, and we anticipate that being the case. Don't expect a ton of flight tracking and so on in the days to come, unless something changes. UVa's administration seemingly did most or all of the leg work ahead of the end of the season, and at this point, the hay might be in the barn. We've heard that some candidates have been told that they won't be getting the job, or aren't the expected choice, which usually means, at this stage, that UVa has made a decision or at a minimum, is down to a couple of folks and they know one of them will accept.

The only name with significant buzz the last couple days is VCU's Ryan Odom, who was basically at the top of yesterday's hot board. VCU opens A-10 Tournament play tomorrow, and with either make the NCAA Tournament or will be squarely on the bubble on Selection Sunday should they fail to win their conference. UVa won't announce anything until the candidate's season is done, as is customary in these situations. Some folks (not people we've spoken to, but just folks on social media) seem to think this one might be all but wrapped up, but we haven't heard that yet. The signs seem to point to Odom, especially since NC State seems to be going in a different direction in their search, targeting Will Wade (McNeese State) and Justin Gainey (Assistant at Tennessee). Villanova is the only other obvious hurdle; the Wildcats play tonight, and if they lose head coach Kyle Neptune could be out and soon; Odom could be a candidate there, but that remains to be seen, and he may well be off the market to UVa at this point. We'll see.

Grand Canyon head coach Bryce Drew, who was the top mid-major option outside of the favorites on the hot board, is a name that has been thrown around a bit. Drew was successful at Valparaiso before an unsuccessful three-year run at Vanderbilt, and now has turned Grand Canyon into a perennial NCAA Tournament contender in the last few years. Grand Canyon won a first round game last year, and played Alabama close in the second round. It seems like UVa did their homework on Drew in case they missed out on a guy or two at the top of the board, and until we hear that Odom is out of the mix, we probably don't need to entertain this one too much. The same goes for Richard Pitino at this point, who seems to be out of the race, or at least not UVa's top choice.

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This lines up with what we’ve heard—Ryan Odom will be UVa’s next basketball coach. Expecting an official announcement and introduction within the next 3 days or so.

Half way through the 1st round of the tournament, out of 18 teams the ACC has 2 teams remaining, one of which had to play its way in. Times are changing and the future does not look promising.

Was watching Kadin Shedrick in last night's loss of his Texas team. He was 3-5 FG, 1-1 3pt shooting, and 4-4 from the free throw line for 11 pts. He also lead Texas with 7 rebounds.

His season average was 8.8ppg, 6.1 Rebounds a game.

It's a shame we did not develop him and what ever the back story was for him wanting to leave; Vander PLas eating up minutes he should have been playing, this was just one of several mismanaged players that Bennett ended up losing to transferring out.

We have to get a coach this time, with a staff that knows how to develop Centers and big men.

Sophomore big man Blake Buchanan is entering the portal when it opens next week, as has been reported elsewhere.

He’s one of the potential transfers that seemed most likely to leave UVa, and frankly I expect him to move on regardless of who the next coach is.

So happy to see them dismantling, SDSU, and hopefully silencing everyone who said that WVU belonged ahead of them. I’m not even sure what constitutes a “quad one“ game, but sometimes I think these statistical metrics overlook the “eye test” and UNC has looked like a tournament team for the last 10 games. It’s not their fault that the ACC had a down year, robbing them of chances to improve their quad one resume.

On Episode 603 of the CavsCorner Podcast (“New Faces in New Places”) we talk about UVa’s coaching search, the holding pattern, and whether spring games should still be a thing.


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Blake first in.

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Anyone know what the noise is about? Possibly re-committing? I assume take with a large grain of salt or moderators are there any legs here?

Now this one is a real head scratcher. Here are our Records between VT, BC, Stanford and our record for the season:

VT. - 9-9, 18-12. Got a #1 seed in WNIT
UVA - 8-10, 17-15 Got snubbed
Stanford - 8-10, 16-14 got a #2 seed
BC - 6-12, 16-17 had losing records in conference and overall and got in.

How on earth did we finish above Stanford that we beat and had a better overall record and BC with a double losing record and they got in???

We lost numerous games this year we were in until down the stretch including the Duke game, NC State and several others. We lost to Washington state at the last second by one point.

The Wyoming game we was in it until we fell apart and the trio of games in Louisville, Miami, NC state where we lost by just 3 pts in the Louisville and Miami games down the stretch when we went cold and had unforced turnovers. Lost to NC State also with up and down play that did us in by 5 did the stretch.

My quick count shows that six schools from Virginia will be playing - George Mason, Liberty, Norfolk State, Richmond, VCU, and William & Mary. Among the schools who will not be playing is UVA.

Smacked Friday night 6-1 by mediocre Cal team. Pitching, defense, and hitting all sucked.

Game 2 today we’re down 7-2 in ninth inning. Looking like we have no business in top 25 and just plain suck. We manage to score 8 runs in ninth inning miraculously with clutch hits by Chone James and Walker Buchanan who had both come in game in 9th to get two hits each. Lanzendorfer got shaky save giving up one more run in bottom of ninth and stranding two to win 10-8. Freaking ESPN+ goes out in middle of ninth inning rally LOL. Anyways, big comeback really important and glad to see BOC shaking up our lineup as hitting been so poor all season.

I'll tell you that VCU plays very hard and plays tough/aggressive defense. If Odum becomes UVA'S coach, I love those characteristics.

MLAX was never in the match against #1 Maryland and lost 12-6. On the other hand, WLAX overcame a 6-0 Duke lead and won 16-11. The baseball team was losing to Cal 2-7 but scored 8 runs in the 8th inning to take a 10-7 lead and held on to win 10-8. The softball team won both games of a doubleheader against BC 4-2 and 9-8. The Virginia distance medley relay team finished first in the NCAA national meet in 9:15:12 record time.

R.I.P Corey lost a good one. Nothing but love and respect 🙏. UVA family keep the family in your prayers..

On Episode 602 of the CavsCorner Podcast ("Timing is Important"), we talk about UVa turning the page and entering its first hoops coaching search of the podcast era in full. So who makes sense and where do things stand?


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From UVa:

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia – Ron Sanchez, who served as the University of Virginia’s interim men’s basketball coach during the 2024-2025 season, will not be retained as the program’s full-time head coach. The announcement was made today by Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams.

Sanchez assumed the interim head coach position on Oct. 18 following the retirement of 15-year head coach Tony Bennett. This season Sanchez led the Cavaliers to a 15-17 record. It was his 11th season with the program that included two different stints with the Cavaliers. He served as an assistant coach (2009-2014) and associate head coach (2015-2018). In 2023, Coach Sanchez returned to Charlottesville to serve as associate head coach (2023-24).

“I am grateful to Coach Sanchez for accepting this role during such a critical time for the program.” Williams said. “Ron is the ultimate professional because he cares deeply about this program and this University. He is an exceptional person because he is gifted as an empathetic and caring human being. He is beloved within our department and in the UVA community. Ron and the staff provided great stability, guidance and support for the young men on the team and we are thankful for his commitment to UVA and the values that are foundational to Virginia men’s basketball.”

The 66-60 loss to Georgia Tech was a repeat of what VA fans have been seeing since November. We struggled on the boards; GT had 44 rebounds with 11 offensive while VA had 26 with 5 offensive. This was a primary reason for the Jackets scoring 40 points in the paint and the Hoos scoring 24; the two big men for GT had a combined 37 points while Virginia's two starters had 12 points. A second factor was the inability of Virginia to defend the pick and roll; Virginia continued to switch on the pick leaving the GT bigs defended by the Virginia guards. We have struggled when we have had only one starter hitting 3-pointers; today McKneely was 7 of 11 while the rest of the team was 2 of 14. All of this led to 18 fouls by Virginia to 9 by Georgia Tech.
Sanchez was put into a tough situation when Bennett suddenly retired, so most fans were willing to give him a chance. It appears that many do not believe that he has earned a second chance. I am in this group.