Virginia Men’s Basketball to Open 2025-26 Season Against NC Central
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The University of โขVirginia men’sโค basketball team will begin its 2025-26 campaign Friday, November 8th, hosting โNorth Carolina Central at John Paul Jones Arena. This marks the third all-timeโ meeting between the programs.
The contest offers โฃa first look at โa substantially revamped Cavalier โroster under Tony Bennett, featuring newcomers likeโ incomingโค freshmen christian Bliss (St. Anne’sโข Belfield) and Owen Odom (Collegiate School).โ UVA returns justโค three players-redshirt sophomores Elijah Gertrude, Carter Lang, and Desmond Roberts-fromโ the previousโค season, and only four total points scored in 2024-25, all from โฃRoberts.
Virginia โboasts a dominant 257-63 (.803) record โฃin 20 seasons at JPJ,including a 1-0 startโฃ to the 2025-26 homeโ schedule. The Cavaliers have consistently excelled on their home court, winning 41โฃ of their last 51 contests and achievingโข double-digit home victories โขforโฃ 16 consecutive seasons. UVA holds a 2-0 โall-time series advantage โover NCCU, securing wins of 77-47 inโข 2023-24 and 73-61 in the 2022-23 seasonโ opener, both played at John Paul Jones Arena.
Following Friday’s matchup, Virginia will continue non-conference play, hosting Hampton on Tuesday, November 11th, โคwith tipoff โscheduled for 9 p.m. on ACCโค Network.