Read more for our full Virginia vs Virginia Tech prediction and preview.
Virginia heads to Blacksburg for a Saturday afternoon battle against Virginia Tech. This is the second matchup between the teams this season — the Hokies defeated the Cavaliers 75-74 on Feb. 1. Both teams are coming off wins last Saturday; Virginia thumped Georgia Tech, while Virginia Tech outlasted Notre Dame.
General Information:
Teams: Virginia (12-12, 5-8) and Virginia Tech (11-13, 6-7)
Tip time: 2 p.m. EST
Watch: The CW Network
Listen: Virginia Sports Radio Network and SiriusXM 390
Latest on Virginia Tech basketball:
Virginia Tech is coming off a two-point win over Notre Dame last Saturday. The Hokies trailed by as much as 11 with 12 minutes left, but clawed their way back into the game and took the lead for good with three minutes left. Junior forward Tobi Lawal led the Hokies with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Virginia Tech was projected to finish 14th in the ACC this year. However, entering play today the Hokies sit in ninth place, which would give them a bye to the second round of the ACC Tournament next month in Charlotte.
In the first Virginia-Virginia Tech matchup of the season, the Hokies’ offense was on fire. They shot over 50% from the floor and made 11 threes, which allowed for Virginia’s Tech lead to swell to as much as 13. While Lawal is the team’s leading scorer (12.9 points per game) and rebounder (6.9), sophomore guard Jaden Schutt stole the show. He had a career-high 18 points and knocked down four three-pointers as Virginia’s trademark packline defense allowed for him to be open on the perimeter.
While the Cavaliers were able to fight back, it was too much to complete the comeback. If Virginia can get out and contest the three-point line, it should win.
Latest on Virginia basketball:
Virginia looked like a sinking ship three weeks ago. The Cavaliers lost six of their first seven games of 2025, five by double-digits. UVa was in danger of not making the ACC Tournament in March.
However, the Cavs appear to have steadied themselves. Virginia has won three of its last four, with the only loss coming to Virginia Tech in Charlottesville two weeks ago. The Cavs were a missed floater by junior guard Andrew Rohde at the buzzer from winning that game, too. The Cavaliers knocked around Miami, tore through a Pitt team that was in Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology at the time and then beat up Georgia Tech.
Virginia’s offense has become efficient, largely thanks to Rohde and sophomore guard Dai Dai Ames. Since Jan. 21, Rohde has 33 assists and just 1 turnover, by far the best ratio in the country. Against the Yellow Jackets, Rohde had 11 points, nine assists and didn’t commit a single turnover.
Meanwhile, Ames has become the offensive weapon Virginia was reportedly getting when he committed in the offseason; Ames has scored at least 10 points in each of the last three games, including a career-high 27 against Pitt and 18 against Georgia Tech.
One thing to monitor is the status of junior forward Elijah Saunders. Saunders missed three games due to injury but returned off the bench against the Yellow Jackets, playing 11 minutes and not scoring a point. But with a full week off, Saunders might be ready to play a larger role today in Blacksburg.
As always, Virginia needs to defend the three. However, the Hokies shoot the three well, ranking seventh in the ACC at nearly 36%. Also, the Cavs struggle in Blacksburg; they haven’t won in Cassell Coliseum since Feb. 26, 2020. It’ll be close, but expect that streak to last another year.