No. 23 Virginia Prepares to Host American in Final Non-Conference Home Game
No. 23 Virginia (10-1) is set to face American (7-5) in its final non-conference home game on Monday, Dec. 22, at John Paul Jones Arena. The game tips off at 6 p.m. and will air on the ACC Network as well as the Virginia Sports Radio Network.
Virginia completes its three-game homestand with this matchup. The Cavaliers boast an undefeated 7-0 record at home this season and have a remarkable 111-11 record in non-conference games at JPJ Arena since the 2009-10 season.
UVA is scoring at a historic pace, averaging 86.5 points per game—second highest in school history. They have reached 80 points or more in 10 contests, the most since the 2007-08 campaign. Virginia’s strong NET rating of 22 and kenpom.com rank of 25 further highlight their stature.
Head coach Ryan Odom, a former assistant at American, leads the Cavaliers in his first season. Odom is off to a 5-0 start, a record bested only by UVA’s first coach, Henry Lannigan, in the early 1900s. Odom brings a wealth of experience with 224 career wins and NCAA Tournament appearances at multiple schools.
The all-time series favors Virginia with a 6-1 edge, including a 6-0 home record against the Eagles. The last meeting saw Virginia edge out American 63-58, spurred by Elijah Saunders’ career-high 21 points. UVA dominated the boards and the paint in that contest.
Key players driving UVA’s success this season include European imports Johann Grünloh and Thijs De Ridder. Grünloh leads the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and blocks (2.7 bpg), ranking among the top shot blockers nationally. Freshman Ugonna Onyenso complements with elite rim protection, averaging 2.6 blocks per game.
Virginia’s balanced attack is also reflected in its record-setting 3-point shooting. The Cavaliers attempt a school-record 26.8 three-pointers per game and rank 16th nationally in shooting percentage from beyond the arc at 39.7%. Sharpshooters Jacari White and Devin Tillis lead the perimeter scoring.
The Cavaliers excel in rebounding, ranking 14th nationally in offensive boards and remaining undefeated in games where they out-rebound opponents. This combination of pace, defense, and sharpshooting defines the “Virginia Standard” focused on humility, unity, and accountability.
Fans can purchase tickets online at uvatix.com or explore group and mini-plan packages. The next big challenge arrives shortly after, as Virginia opens ACC play against rival Virginia Tech on Dec. 31 at Cassell Coliseum.
Read more at: virginiasports.com
