NCAAM News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

Mar 20, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; VCU Rams head coach Ryan Odom reacts during the first half against the Brigham Young Cougars in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

CBB Expert Says Virginia's Roster Is Ready To Win Immediately Under Ryan Odom

Originally posted on Virginia Cavaliers on SI
By Jackson Caudell | Last updated Jul 26, 2025 7:28 PM ET

Virginia Basketball had a transition season a year ago under interim head coach Ron Sanchez but they might be ready to move back up into the top of the ACC. They hired away Ryan Odom from VCU and had an impressive transfer portal haul afterward, remaking their roster in hopes of getting back to where they were in the conference under Tony Bennett.

I think their offseason is somehow becoming underrated though.

Virginia has crafted an identity around high-level three-point shooters and playing at a quick pace, and that should have them near the top of the ACC. In a recent article, CBS Sports analyst Isaac Trotter was discussing new head coaches and when talking about Odom and UVA, Trotter says this is a team that should be ready to win immediately:

"The days of long rebuilds are over. Virginia should be highly competitive right away under Odom, who has beaten his preseason KenPom rating in eight of his nine seasons at the helm.

Virginia's new roster is ready to win immediately. San Francisco transfer Malik Thomas is a flat-out baller, and Virginia's backcourt is brimming with shooters and experience. UVa went international to fill its frontcourt void with German 7-footer Johann Grunloh, who profiles to fill that coveted archetype of a big man who can splash 3s and block shots. Belgian forward Thijs de Ridder is another outstanding addition. de Ridder, already 22 years old, is a plug-and-play starting 4-man who has been a pro for years, and Odom has accrued plenty of depth off the bench. Virginia should give Duke and Louisville a run for its money in the ACC and make the NCAA Tournament comfortably."

In a recent article, CBS Sports analyst Matt Norlander named Virginia as one of the most improved teams in the country next season:

"After spending last week on the recruiting trail and checking in with a medley of coaches, I can report that many a coach in college hoops believes Ryan Odom's Virginia Cavaliers will take a big jump in his first season. The Wahoos went 15-17 last season, fated to toil under Ron Sanchez in the wake of Tony Bennett's head-turning retirement in mid-October. Odom was plucked from nearby VCU, given a $10 million-plus roster budget for the upcoming season and has been able to load up on a team that figures to be top-five in the ACC.

BYU transfer Dallin Hall and former Kansas State forward Ugonna Onyenso have to vastly improve their production from last season, and the additions of three high-level mid-major scorers will give Virginia plenty to work with on offense. Malik Thomas (19.9 ppg at San Francisco), Jacari White (17.1 ppg at North Dakota State) and Sam Lewis (16.2 ppg at Toledo) will likely combine to put up more than 30 points per night. Then there's one of the best gets of the offseason, Belgium forward Thijs De Ridder, who has two years of professional experience in Spain underneath his belt. The 6-foot-8 combo forward put up 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 39.1% from 3 in one of the best Euro leagues.

Odom -- who has a career .636 winning percentage over more than a decade of coaching mid-major programs -- is ready for this. Virginia has the pieces. I'll be surprised if the Cavs aren't a single-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament next season."

I think they are one of the most improved teams around the country, and have one of the most underrated transfer portal classes in the country, and it got even better recently with the addition of international forward Thijs de Ridder.

De Ridder is a 6-8, 231-pound skilled power forward who played the last two seasons for Surne Bilbao Basket in Spain’s Liga Endesa. In 2024-25, De Ridder averaged 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds, shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range. De Ridder averaged 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 51.5 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range in 2023-24.

De Ridder appeared in six games for Belgium in the 2025 European Championship Qualifiers and also participated in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2022 and 2023. He led Belgium to a fourth-place finish in 2023, averaging 16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in seven contests. De Ridder was named Belgian Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Big Man of the Year in 2023 and one of Liga ACB’s Top 5 Young Guys in 2025.

I think Virginia is going to be near the top of the ACC this season and an NCAA Tournament team. Could they be something more than that?

This article first appeared on Virginia Cavaliers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: