VIRGINIA CAVALIERS 19 – 8 (11 - 5 ACC, tied for 3rd)
NCAA NET 36 (UNC 18); NCAA WAB 43 (UNC 19); Massey rating 41 (UNC 17); RPI 53 (Nolan) (UNC 29); Torvik 38 (UNC 20)
Last season 17-15 (8-10, tie10th); 1-1 ACCT; No postseason
Thursday night’s opponents are the Virginia Cavaliers. The game will be in Charlottesville, but probably not “Senior Night” for them as they have another home game with archrival Virginia Tech next Sunday. UNC still ranked #21/#22 and Virginia have played 95 times; the Heels lead 59-36. Since 2012, Carolina is 14-4 with the Cavs, but Virginia has won the last two, at JPJ in 2024, and at Carmichael last year. In that game UVA won 78-75 behind Latimore’s 23 points despite a career high of 25 from Maria Gakdeng. The Heels were without Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly.
For Sunday’s game Carolina is listed as a 7-point favorite by Massey; Nolan shows UNC by 4, and Torvik has the Heels by 3.
The 2025-26 UVA season has shown some positive results, particularly in conference play as their 11 wins will likely keep them in the top 6 in the ACC, a substantial improvement over last year’s #10 finish. One issue is that UVA does not have the tiebreaker with either #4 Syracuse or #5 NCSU.
Virginia had some of the usual mid-major opponents: Morgan State (W 86-36), Bucknell (W 80-35) UMBC (L 76-47), Radford (W 77-46), and Longwood (W 94-47). The UMBC loss is a trifle troubling. Virginia was invited to the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville FL, playing Northwestern State (W 69-48), and Nebraska (L 82-91). UVA however, easily disposed of Maryland Eastern Shore (92-59) but then got crossways to Vanderbilt in the ACC/SEC challenge. That was a 68-81 loss in Nashville.
The Cavs opened ACC play in December by hosting BC and winning 81-55. Two more mid-major wins followed with Howard (76-50) and Winthrop (88-53) and this gave Virginia a non-conference record 8-3.
For real basketball started with a visit from SMU and a 24-point win (76-52). The Cavs did well with a Clemson visit (73-63) and a visit to FSU 91-87 (in 2 overtimes). The Hoos put up a fight, squeaking by Georgia Tech (61-59), but losing to Syracuse (60-79), and losing at dook (58-65).
An up-and-down pattern developed as the Cavs won with Pitt (84-46), lost at NCSU (76-78 in OT), winning at Wake 109-103 in 3 overtimes, and losing at Virginia Tech (64-76). Things improved with a 67-56 win with Miami and another with Notre Dame 81-70. A West Coast trip provided a loss to Cal (58-84) and a win with Stanford 75-69. In the most recent game Virginia edged out Louisville 74-72 on a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left.
Typically for Virginia, the lineup has changed a bit as the season has progressed, and just one player has started every game. That player is Kymora Johnson, a 5 -7 PG. She averages double figures (18.9) and lead in assists and steals. As a junior, she is among the leading candidates for POY. She has developed an affair with the three, 36.6% with 73 makes of 213 attempts. Johnson is the one to stop.
Paris Clark, a 5-8 senior G has started every game but one. Her numbers are 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds. A newcomer to the team is the third regular starter, 26 starts so far, 6-4 senior F Tabitha Amanze. Amanze spent three seasons at Princeton. She is the #2 scorer at 10.5 ppg and leads the rebounding with 6.2 rpg. A fourth starter for much of the year has been Israel’s Romi Levy, a 6-3 GS W (7.6/4.1), who certainly deserves the designation of “veteran”. Her career began back in 2021 at Auburn, and after three years there (one on IR) she was off to USF for two years. Now at UVA she may be one of the very last Covid-5 players. Like Clark she has 20+ starts and adds 7.5 points.
The final starter will likely be 6-2 redshirt junior Sa’myah Smith, last seen laboring for LSU. Smith has had some injury issues and missed 10 games at season’s beginning but has started the last nine ACC games. Her numbers are 8.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg. In all, the Cavs have seven transfers, most of whom contribute. Two are regulars as reserves, 5-11 GS G Jillian Brown (3.3 ppg) from Northwestern and 6-4 GS F Caitlin Weimar (7.9/5.9) from NCSU. Weimar never played for Moo U (injured) but was a defensive star at Boston U where she was defensive POY and overall, Patriot League POY in 2024.
Freshman Gabby White, a 5-10 G (7.3/3.5) and 6-5 sophomore C Adeang Ring (4.5/3.0) have made brief appearances in all 27 games. Two holdovers from last season, sophomore Breona Hurd, a 6-2 F, and 6-2 junior G Olivia McGhee Have seen their minutes dramatically reduced by the influx of transfers.
Statistically, the two teams are remarkably close in every category. UNC still maintains a slight advantage defensively. One glaring advantage for UVA is with blocked shots, 105 so far and #1 ACC. Carolina has 56, #10 ACC. Another advantage for the Hoos is attendance, averaging 4432 per game at JPJ.
“Coach Mox”, Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, is in her fourth year with a record of 67-54.
This will be one of the toughest games UNC will have. Virginia is tall, as their shot blocking shows, and they have depth of talent including one truly outstanding player in Kymora Johnson. Coach Banghart singled her out on her last radio show. Their last two games against Carolina have been wins. A win against UNC would be important for post-season seeding in both the ACCT and NCAA. Besides all that, UNC as they are with virtually every long-term member of the ACC, the team they hate and most want to beat.
Carolina has, however, a lot to lose. They are positioned to get everything desired for this campaign: a double bye in the ACCT and a top 3 finish. All they need is to beat Virginia. Enough said.
Game time is 7:00 PM EST Thursday. There is streaming coverage from ACCNX and audio from GoHeels. It is frustrating that a game of this importance is not being broadcast either by ESPN or ACCN.
NCAA NET 36 (UNC 18); NCAA WAB 43 (UNC 19); Massey rating 41 (UNC 17); RPI 53 (Nolan) (UNC 29); Torvik 38 (UNC 20)
Last season 17-15 (8-10, tie10th); 1-1 ACCT; No postseason
Thursday night’s opponents are the Virginia Cavaliers. The game will be in Charlottesville, but probably not “Senior Night” for them as they have another home game with archrival Virginia Tech next Sunday. UNC still ranked #21/#22 and Virginia have played 95 times; the Heels lead 59-36. Since 2012, Carolina is 14-4 with the Cavs, but Virginia has won the last two, at JPJ in 2024, and at Carmichael last year. In that game UVA won 78-75 behind Latimore’s 23 points despite a career high of 25 from Maria Gakdeng. The Heels were without Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly.
For Sunday’s game Carolina is listed as a 7-point favorite by Massey; Nolan shows UNC by 4, and Torvik has the Heels by 3.
The 2025-26 UVA season has shown some positive results, particularly in conference play as their 11 wins will likely keep them in the top 6 in the ACC, a substantial improvement over last year’s #10 finish. One issue is that UVA does not have the tiebreaker with either #4 Syracuse or #5 NCSU.
Virginia had some of the usual mid-major opponents: Morgan State (W 86-36), Bucknell (W 80-35) UMBC (L 76-47), Radford (W 77-46), and Longwood (W 94-47). The UMBC loss is a trifle troubling. Virginia was invited to the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville FL, playing Northwestern State (W 69-48), and Nebraska (L 82-91). UVA however, easily disposed of Maryland Eastern Shore (92-59) but then got crossways to Vanderbilt in the ACC/SEC challenge. That was a 68-81 loss in Nashville.
The Cavs opened ACC play in December by hosting BC and winning 81-55. Two more mid-major wins followed with Howard (76-50) and Winthrop (88-53) and this gave Virginia a non-conference record 8-3.
For real basketball started with a visit from SMU and a 24-point win (76-52). The Cavs did well with a Clemson visit (73-63) and a visit to FSU 91-87 (in 2 overtimes). The Hoos put up a fight, squeaking by Georgia Tech (61-59), but losing to Syracuse (60-79), and losing at dook (58-65).
An up-and-down pattern developed as the Cavs won with Pitt (84-46), lost at NCSU (76-78 in OT), winning at Wake 109-103 in 3 overtimes, and losing at Virginia Tech (64-76). Things improved with a 67-56 win with Miami and another with Notre Dame 81-70. A West Coast trip provided a loss to Cal (58-84) and a win with Stanford 75-69. In the most recent game Virginia edged out Louisville 74-72 on a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left.
Typically for Virginia, the lineup has changed a bit as the season has progressed, and just one player has started every game. That player is Kymora Johnson, a 5 -7 PG. She averages double figures (18.9) and lead in assists and steals. As a junior, she is among the leading candidates for POY. She has developed an affair with the three, 36.6% with 73 makes of 213 attempts. Johnson is the one to stop.
Paris Clark, a 5-8 senior G has started every game but one. Her numbers are 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds. A newcomer to the team is the third regular starter, 26 starts so far, 6-4 senior F Tabitha Amanze. Amanze spent three seasons at Princeton. She is the #2 scorer at 10.5 ppg and leads the rebounding with 6.2 rpg. A fourth starter for much of the year has been Israel’s Romi Levy, a 6-3 GS W (7.6/4.1), who certainly deserves the designation of “veteran”. Her career began back in 2021 at Auburn, and after three years there (one on IR) she was off to USF for two years. Now at UVA she may be one of the very last Covid-5 players. Like Clark she has 20+ starts and adds 7.5 points.
The final starter will likely be 6-2 redshirt junior Sa’myah Smith, last seen laboring for LSU. Smith has had some injury issues and missed 10 games at season’s beginning but has started the last nine ACC games. Her numbers are 8.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg. In all, the Cavs have seven transfers, most of whom contribute. Two are regulars as reserves, 5-11 GS G Jillian Brown (3.3 ppg) from Northwestern and 6-4 GS F Caitlin Weimar (7.9/5.9) from NCSU. Weimar never played for Moo U (injured) but was a defensive star at Boston U where she was defensive POY and overall, Patriot League POY in 2024.
Freshman Gabby White, a 5-10 G (7.3/3.5) and 6-5 sophomore C Adeang Ring (4.5/3.0) have made brief appearances in all 27 games. Two holdovers from last season, sophomore Breona Hurd, a 6-2 F, and 6-2 junior G Olivia McGhee Have seen their minutes dramatically reduced by the influx of transfers.
Statistically, the two teams are remarkably close in every category. UNC still maintains a slight advantage defensively. One glaring advantage for UVA is with blocked shots, 105 so far and #1 ACC. Carolina has 56, #10 ACC. Another advantage for the Hoos is attendance, averaging 4432 per game at JPJ.
“Coach Mox”, Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, is in her fourth year with a record of 67-54.
This will be one of the toughest games UNC will have. Virginia is tall, as their shot blocking shows, and they have depth of talent including one truly outstanding player in Kymora Johnson. Coach Banghart singled her out on her last radio show. Their last two games against Carolina have been wins. A win against UNC would be important for post-season seeding in both the ACCT and NCAA. Besides all that, UNC as they are with virtually every long-term member of the ACC, the team they hate and most want to beat.
Carolina has, however, a lot to lose. They are positioned to get everything desired for this campaign: a double bye in the ACCT and a top 3 finish. All they need is to beat Virginia. Enough said.
Game time is 7:00 PM EST Thursday. There is streaming coverage from ACCNX and audio from GoHeels. It is frustrating that a game of this importance is not being broadcast either by ESPN or ACCN.
