No. 18 Virginia Looks to Bounce Back at Home Against Pitt

Cavaliers aim to start fast after two close road wins last week

Feb. 3, 2026 at 12:47am

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No. 18 Virginia, coming off a pair of close road wins last week, looks to get back on track at home against Pitt in an ACC matchup on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers had their 11-game home win streak snapped in their last game at John Paul Jones Arena, but they bounced back with victories at Notre Dame and Boston College. Pitt, meanwhile, has lost four of its last five games and is just 1-5 on the road this season.

Why it matters

This game is an important conference matchup for both teams, as Virginia looks to maintain its position near the top of the ACC standings, while Pitt tries to turn around its season and keep its streak of three straight winning seasons alive.

The details

Virginia has been led by a balanced scoring attack, with Thijs De Ridder, Malik Thomas, Chance Mallory, and Sam Lewis all averaging double-figure points. The Cavaliers are averaging 84.0 points per game this season, a significant increase from the last two years. Pitt, on the other hand, has struggled offensively at times, with leading scorer Brandin Cummings held to just two points in the team's most recent loss to Clemson.

  • Virginia's 11-game home win streak was snapped on January 24.
  • Virginia earned road wins at Notre Dame on January 31 and Boston College on February 4.
  • Pitt's most recent game was a 63-52 loss at Clemson on February 4.

The players

Ryan Odom

Head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers.

Jacari White

Virginia player who hit a key 3-pointer in the win over Boston College.

Thijs De Ridder

A 23-year-old freshman from Belgium who scored 17 points for Virginia in the win over Boston College.

Jeff Capel

Head coach of the Pitt Panthers.

Brandin Cummings

Pitt's leading scorer, who was held to just two points in the loss to Clemson.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard to complain, winning that many games on the road. It's not easy to win on the road. It doesn't matter what league you're in. It's difficult.”

— Ryan Odom, Head coach, Virginia Cavaliers

“To come away this week with two wins on the road is really, really difficult, and I'm proud of the execution down the stretch.”

— Ryan Odom, Head coach, Virginia Cavaliers

“We played Clemson close (the first time). We played them well. That's another one where if we can close around the basket and make some free throws, maybe the outcome is a little bit different.”

— Jeff Capel, Head coach, Pitt Panthers

What’s next

Virginia will look to extend its home winning streak when it hosts Pitt on Tuesday night, while Pitt will try to bounce back from its recent losses and keep its season-long goals within reach.

The takeaway

This game features a Virginia team intent on starting fast at home after a pair of close road wins, while Pitt looks to turn around its recent struggles and keep its hopes of a fourth straight winning season alive.