Virginia Cavaliers Face Wright State Raiders in NCAA Tournament First Round

The Virginia Cavaliers (29-5) will face the Wright State Raiders (23-11) in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ESPN has live coverage scheduled for 1:50 PM EST.

Cavaliers Aim to Break Tournament Drought

Virginia, a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, is looking to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since winning the national championship in 2019. The Cavaliers have suffered first-round upsets in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Sports Interaction notes that Virginia is a heavy 18.5-point favorite in this matchup, with the over/under set at 145.5.

Raiders Riding Momentum

Wright State, a No. 14 seed, won the Horizon League and enters the tournament with a 23-11 record. They finished 15-5 in conference play. The Athletic reports Wright State is led by forward Tim Finke, averaging 13.4 points per game.

Key Players to Watch

For Virginia, Thijs De Ridder leads the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game and also leads in rebounding with 6.2 per game. The Athletic highlights that Virginia relies heavily on its freshman class, with Chance Mallory also contributing 9.5 points per game and Johann Grünloh adding 5.2 rebounds per game.

Odom’s Return to Familiar Territory

This matchup is particularly notable for Virginia head coach Ryan Odom. CBS Sports points out that Odom previously coached UMBC to a historic upset over Virginia as a No. 16 seed in 2018. He is now tasked with leading the Cavaliers to success against a team that mirrors the underdog spirit of his former squad.

What’s at Stake

Virginia aims to overcome its recent tournament struggles and make a deep run in March Madness. Wright State seeks to pull off a major upset and continue its impressive season. Maintaining composure and focus will be key for the Cavaliers, given the inexperience of several key players on the big stage of the NCAA Tournament.