UVA Basketball Faces Wright State in NCAA Tournament Opener

UVA Basketball prepares for a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament. Their opponent is Wright State, a No. 14 seed that earned an automatic bid.

Wright State profile

The Raiders won the Horizon League tournament by erasing a 12-point deficit. They defeated Detroit Mercy 66-63 in the title game.

Wright State scored 105 points in the semifinals. The team enters the event with a 23-11 overall record and a 15-5 league mark.

The Raiders have won eight of their last 10 games and 18 of their last 22. They average 80.5 points per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor.

Key contributors

Michael Cooper leads the team at 13.3 points per game. TJ Burch averages 11.8 points and 3.5 assists per contest.

Solomon Callaghan shoots 39.8 percent from three. Dominic Pangonis converts 38.2 percent from long range.

TJ Burch also supplies defensive energy, averaging about 2.6 steals per game. Cooper can heat up and change a game in short stretches.

Frontcourt and style

Wright State does not rely solely on threes. The team shoots 36.1 percent from deep and takes only about a third of its attempts from long range.

The Raiders use size and physicality. Michael Imariagbe, a 6-foot-7 senior, averages 11.9 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 58.4 percent.

Freshman Kellen Pickett, at 6-foot-9, adds 8.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. The team blocks 4.4 shots per game.

Virginia’s strengths

Virginia ranks first nationally in blocks with 6.5 per game. The Cavaliers also sit second in the ACC in rebounding at 40.2 boards per game.

Two true seven-footers anchor the defense. Johann Grünloh averages 2.2 blocks, while Ugonna Onyenso leads the ACC with 3.0 blocks per game.

Defensive metrics

UVA allows 39.5 percent shooting, second best in the ACC. They give up 68.4 points per game, and permit 30.9 percent from three.

The Cavaliers funnel drivers into the paint and rely on rim protection to close possessions. That approach directly challenges Wright State’s strengths.

Offensive balance

This Virginia team can score. The Cavaliers average 80.9 points per game and rank fourth in the ACC in assists.

Thijs De Ridder leads with 15.5 points per game. Dallin Hall runs the offense and hands out about 4.3 assists per game.

Matchup outlook

Wright State’s interior play meets two of the country’s top shot blockers. That makes finishing at the rim much harder for the Raiders.

Wright State has lost to higher-level opponents. They fell 94-69 at Butler, 77-67 at California, and 83-76 at home to Miami (OH).

Those results suggest their margin for error shrinks against bigger, more athletic teams. Still, the Raiders can speed the game and hit threes.

If Virginia turns the game into a paint war, the Cavaliers hold a clear advantage. If the contest opens up, Wright State’s shooting and backcourt play can create danger.

Filmogaz.com will monitor the matchup and provide further coverage as the NCAA Tournament opener approaches.