UVA Basketball: A Mixed Bag for the Upcoming Season

The UVA Basketball team showed promise in their recent exhibition game against Villanova, but there's still room for improvement. Eighteen turnovers and a soft interior defense are areas that need work. As the 2025-2026 season approaches, predictions from various algorithms paint a mixed picture. KenPom's projection of 18-13 overall and 9-9 in the ACC, placing UVA seventh, isn't inspiring. Duke is expected to dominate with a 24-7 record, while Louisville, Clemson, UNC, NC State, SMU, and Wake Forest are all ahead of UVA. KenPom ranks Virginia 59th nationally, just above VCU, which is at 60th.Other algorithms offer slightly better outlooks. BartTorvik predicts a 21-10 record, placing UVA fourth in the ACC and 33rd nationally. EvanMiya has Virginia at 46th nationally and seventh in the ACC. Haslametrics is less optimistic, ranking UVA 68th nationally and ninth in the ACC. Despite these projections, the team's recruiting and performance in the exhibition game suggest they might exceed expectations. The upcoming season will be a test of their potential and readiness to compete at a higher level.