Miami, Virginia Set for 'Hard-Nosed' ACC Tournament Semifinal

Third-seeded Hurricanes and second-seeded Cavaliers meet in high-stakes rematch after close regular season matchup.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Miami Hurricanes and Virginia Cavaliers will face off in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament on Friday night, with both teams looking to avenge close losses from the regular season. Miami is seeking its first ACC Tournament final appearance since 2013, while Virginia is aiming to continue its stifling defensive play that has defined its season.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top teams in the ACC, with both squads looking to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes. The winner will advance to the ACC championship game, putting them in prime position for a high seed in the Big Dance.

The details

Miami (25-7) defeated Louisville 78-73 in the quarterfinals, led by forward Malik Reneau's 18 second-half points. The Hurricanes are seeking revenge after falling 86-83 to Virginia (28-4) in the regular season. Virginia held off NC State 81-74 in the quarters, with center Ugonna Onyenso providing a major defensive presence with 8 blocks. The Cavaliers pride themselves on their stifling defense, which will be tested against Miami's high-powered offense.

  • The semifinal matchup is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • Miami defeated Louisville on Thursday, March 12, 2026 to advance.
  • Virginia defeated NC State on Thursday, March 12, 2026 to advance.

The players

Malik Reneau

A forward for the Miami Hurricanes who scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half against Louisville.

Ugonna Onyenso

The Virginia Cavaliers' center who recorded 8 blocks in the quarterfinal win over NC State.

Ryan Odom

The head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's going to be a war. It's going to be a hard-nosed basketball game, and we've got to be ready to play all 40 minutes -- relentless 40 minutes.”

— Malik Reneau, Forward, Miami Hurricanes (statenews.net)

“For him to step up and be able to go that long in this game says a lot about his physical fitness and the impact that he had within the game was huge.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, Virginia Cavaliers (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of the Miami-Virginia semifinal will advance to the ACC Tournament championship game on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated rematch between two of the ACC's top teams promises to be a physical, defensive-minded battle as both squads look to punch their ticket to the conference title game and bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes.