Virginia 82-73 Wright State (Mar 20, 2026) Game Recap
PHILADELPHIA — — With Virginia burdened by years of early successes within the NCAA Tournament, first-year coach Ryan Odom performed for his workforce the 2019 “One Shining Moment” spotlight bundle from the Cavaliers’ nationwide championship season.
Odom had another shock. He paired “One Shining Moment” with clips from this season’s Cavaliers to remind them of the heights they believed they might attain.
Surviving the primary spherical was a fairly good second.
Jacari White hit six 3-pointers and scored 26 factors, and third-seeded Virginia prevented yet one more early NCAA Tournament exit, beating a resolute Wright State 82-73 within the first spherical on Friday.
Maybe it is time for an additional “Shining” video.
“Now we actually have some footage” of a match win, Odom stated with fun.
The Cavaliers (30-5) will face sixth-seeded Tennessee within the second spherical within the Midwest Region on Sunday.
Virginia hadn’t gained in March Madness since that 2019 title. The Cavaliers misplaced within the first spherical or the First Four in 2021, 2023 and 2024, and title-winning coach Tony Bennett abruptly retired earlier than final season. Odom took over this season and rapidly turned this system round.
Odom is aware of all about Virginia upsets within the match. He coached UMBC in 2018 when it was the primary No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 — sure, Virginia.
The coach confronted questions all season about his connection to one in every of March Madness’ most enduring video games. Yet Odom, who gained 30 video games for the primary time, by no means introduced up that recreation in entrance of his gamers. He merely enforced their March potential by exhibiting this season’s prime performs.
“I wanted them to see themselves over the course of the season having tremendous joy, both on and off the court,” Odom stated. “This is the culmination of the season. We’re all at the end here. We’re all trying to extend it as long as we possibly can.”
Wright State (24-11), a No. 14 seed, was an 18 1/2-point underdog in keeping with Sportsbook however by no means regarded out of step because it tried to drag off the shocker.
Michael Imariagbe scored 19 factors and stored hope alive for that uncommon 14 seed win — there have been none within the match since 2024 — with a late 3 that pulled the Raiders inside 78-73.
White — who thrilled his followers clad in navy inexperienced who referred to as themselves the “Jacarmy” — responded with a bucket that put to relaxation any ideas of an early journey again house for the Cavaliers.
“I don’t think they were wronged,” Wright State coach Clint Sargent stated. “Virginia’s trying to win, too.”
Wright State, the Horizon League champion, made its first NCAA Tournament look since 2022 and fifth general.
Solomon Callaghanwho scored 18 factors, hit three 3s early and buried one other late within the half for a 39-36 lead. Wright State hit eight 3s within the half and Virginia made seven in a chuck-it-up recreation the place the groups every completed with 13 general.
TJ Burch added 15 factors for Wright State. Sam Lewiswho suffered a tough fall and briefly left the sport within the first half, scored 12 factors for Virginia.
Odom grew up rooting for Virginia and famous how these ties meant a little bit extra to him as he tried to place collectively a workforce that might go deep in March Madness.
Odom spent a great portion of his childhood in Charlottesville whereas his father, Dave, labored as an assistant below Terry Holland from 1982-89. Odom’s image graced the duvet of Holland’s camp one summer season and Odom even served as a ball boy for the workforce.
He’s now an NCAA Tournament winner on the college.
Virginia is the fourth workforce Odom has led into the NCAA Tournament, after UMBC, Utah State and VCU.
Those applications ought to look acquainted to anybody who stuffed out a bracket. All of them made this 12 months’s discipline.
Sargent joined the Wright State employees in 2016 and was promoted to go coach forward of final season. He referred to as his rookie 12 months “brutal” with a 15-18 report.
One season later, Wright State gained the Horizon regular-season and match titles for the primary time in program historical past.
“We were well connected off court, which brought it on court,” Callaghan stated. “As you can see, we became a good team, made history here at Wright State.”
Virginia — which performed within the 1981 Final Four in Philadelphia — goes for its first second-round win since 2019. The Cavaliers have gained 14 of their final 16 video games.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness