Here’s how to watch

You can watch the season opener on Wednesday night on ESPN+ or ACC Network Extra. This means you can watch the game on ESPN.com or the ESPN app with either an ESPN+ subscription or a TV provider subscription that includes ACC Network.

Locationion: Charlottesville, VA
Date: November 6, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN+/ACCNX
Betting line: UVA -16.5

Pre-game content

Preview UVA basketball’s season opener against Campbell

Virginia Basketball releases “potential starting lineup” for season opener against Campbell

UVA basketball mailbag: Changes under Sanchez, reasons for optimism, impact of Warley’s departure and more

How Isaac McKneely can be the cornerstone for UVA basketball this season

UVA basketball explains concepts of updated offense

game thread

Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. – leave your thoughts before, during and after the game here and be sure to check back for lots of post-game content!

We will also be active on Twitter throughout the game and season. So follow the live reactions of our employees there.

Stripes on the lawn – @STL_UVA

Zach Carey – @Zach_Carey_

Dan Siegel – @DanSiegel_

Corbin Lathrop – @CorbinLathrop

John Kurcina – @JohnKurcina

Trey Kelleher – @TreyKelleher3

Gavin Booker – @GavinBookerPxP

Garrett Keogh – @Garrett_Keogh01

Game notes

Finally, game notes from UVA:

For openers

• UVA begins its 120th season of men’s basketball, posting a record of 1,743-1,215 (.589).

• Virginia meets Campbell for the first time.

• UVA is 24-2 in its last 26 season opening games.

• UVA has a 13-2 record in its last 15 season-opening games.

• The Cavaliers have a 96-23 all-time record in 119 season opening games.

• UVA is 98-10 in non-conference play at JPJ since 2009-10.

The interim head coach

• Ron Sanchez was named interim men’s basketball coach for Dean and Markel Families on Oct. 18 following the retirement of three-time national coach of the year Tony Bennett.

• Sanchez, who spent 10 seasons on Bennett’s staff at UVA in two different stints (2009-19 and 2023-24), compiled a 72-78 record as head coach at Charlotte from 2018-23.

• He was with Bennett for nine seasons from 2009 to 2018, the last three as assistant head coach. During his time on the Grounds, the Cavaliers won 212 games, three ACC regular season titles and two ACC Tournament titles, while making six NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT appearance. The Cavaliers earned first place in the NCAA Tournament three times and won 29 or more games four times. UVA won 31 games and reached No. 1 in the AP rankings for the first time since 1982-83 in Sanchez’s final season at UVA in 2017-18.

• He returned to UVA as associate head coach in 2023-24, when the Cavaliers posted a 23-11 record and a 13-7 record in the ACC.

• Under Sanchez’s leadership in Charlotte, the 49ers won 16 or more games in three seasons, including a 22-14 record in the 2022-23 season. The highlight of his final season in Charlotte was the 49ers’ first-ever postseason tournament title when they won four games in five days at the 2023 Discount Tire College Basketball Invitational in Daytona Beach, Florida.

• Sanchez served as an assistant coach on Tony Bennett’s staff at Washington State for three seasons from 2006 to 2009, helping the Cougars to two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT berth. Washington State reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and the Sweet 16 in 2008. The Cougars tied the school record with 26 wins in 2006–07 and 2007–08.

• Sanchez was 2-3 in the season-opening games as head coach at Charlotte.

Hoo, are those cavaliers?

• The Cavaliers return two starters (Isaac McKneely and Andrew Rohde) from last season’s team, which finished third in the ACC (13-7) and advanced to the NCAA First Four

• The Cavaliers are returning 36.2 percent of their points from last season, marking the second straight year UVA has scored 37 percent or less of their points. UVA scored 91.4 percent of its points in 2022-23

• McKneely (12.3 ppg, 44.5% 3FG) and Rohde (4.3 ppg, 2.7 apg) are joined by returnees Blake Buchanan (3.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and Taine Murray (3rd). .3 ppg, 45% 3FG)

• Virginia’s roster includes offseason transfers Dai Dai Ames (Kansas State), TJ Power (Duke) and Elijah Saunders (San Diego State), as well as newcomers Ishan Sharma (Ontario, Canada) and Jacob Cofie (Seattle, Washington).

• Redshirts Anthony Robinson and Christian Bliss will make their UVA debuts after redshirting last season

• Promising sophomore Elijah Gertrude will miss the 2024-25 season after suffering a knee injury in the offseason.

• Point guard Jalen Warley (Florida State) was released from the program on Oct. 29.