UVa's Lewis, Mallory gain March Madness experience

Lessons learned in first tournament appearance could aid Cavaliers in future

Mar. 23, 2026 at 10:20am

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After Virginia basketball's second-round loss to Tennessee, Cavaliers guard Sam Lewis said he'll be back for the 2026-27 season. There were lessons learned in his first March Madness experience that could help the Hoos in the future.

Why it matters

While the Cavaliers fell short of the Sweet 16 this year, the tournament experience for young players like Lewis and Mallory will be invaluable as they look to lead Virginia back to the NCAA Tournament in the coming seasons.

The details

Lewis and fellow freshman Kihei Mallory made their first NCAA Tournament appearances this year, as Virginia was eliminated in the second round by Tennessee. Despite the early exit, the two young guards gained valuable experience that should benefit the Cavaliers in future March Madness runs.

  • Virginia basketball's season ended on March 23, 2026 with a second-round loss to Tennessee.

The players

Sam Lewis

A guard for the Virginia Cavaliers basketball team who will return for the 2026-27 season.

Kihei Mallory

A freshman guard for the Virginia Cavaliers basketball team who made his first NCAA Tournament appearance this year.

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What they’re saying

“I'll be back next year, and we're going to make another run at it.”

— Sam Lewis, Virginia Cavaliers guard

What’s next

Lewis and Mallory will look to build on their tournament experience and lead Virginia back to the NCAA Tournament next season.

The takeaway

While the Cavaliers fell short of their goal this year, the March Madness debut for young players like Lewis and Mallory will pay dividends as they aim to guide Virginia on deeper tournament runs in the future.