CHARLOTTESVILLE — As he scouted Virginia ahead of Tuesday night’s game, Hampton coach Ivan Thomas didn’t find many flaws in the Cavaliers’ roster or the way they play.
So, Thomas knew his Pirates would need to be up to the physical challenge of going toe-to-toe, on the road, with an ACC foe.
When it didn’t happen, Thomas knew he’d be in for a long night.
“My pedigree is toughness. I think we came out soft,” Thomas said. “I think we came out just to play basketball and we didn’t come out to play a gameplan. Part of being tough is not only the physical aspect, but it’s the mental aspect.”
UVA (3-0) dominated from start to finish, getting a double-double from Ugo Onyenso with 18 points and 10 rebounds, double-digit scoring from four other players, and a dominant effort on the glass on its way to a 91-53 rout that was every bit as lopsided as the final score might suggest.
The Cavaliers are now 10-0 all-time against Hampton.
First-year coach Ryan Odom’s team put together its most complete performance to date, sharing the ball and hitting shots, controlling the rebounding and applying defensive pressure that led to the Pirates (1-2) hitting just 31.7% of their shots.
“Today, you could see it on both ends — offense and defense,” said guard Sam Lewis, who scored 13 points and had five rebounds. “We meshed really well. We came out with a common goal — attack them first.”
Odom said the Cavaliers made strides defensively as they continue to adjust to his full-court press system, 90-foot pressure that is less about forcing turnovers and more about eating clock and disrupting opposing offenses.
“The defensive intensity throughout was more like we want it to be,” Odom said. “I felt like the guys were urgent throughout. Just did a really good job of forcing hard shots.”
For UVA, its depth helps make that possible. The Cavaliers had 10 players log at least 12 minutes.
“We wear them down,” Lewis said. “That’s why we play a lot of guys. We’ve got a deep bench. The more we wear them down, the more our bench and other guys can come in and just take over.”
That depth has been on display each game this season.
UVA’s subs scored 31 in the season-opening win over Rider, 32 in defeating North Carolina Central and 50 points Tuesday against Hampton.
And those weren’t garbage time minutes — Virginia’s bench scored 26 points in the first half as it built a 47-19 lead in the first matchup between the two schools since 2017.
The first three subs off Odom’s bench, as they were the first two games, were Onyenso, shooting guard Jacari White and freshman point guard Chance Mallory.
Mallory scored 16 and White added 10.
But it was Onyenso, who spent two years at Kentucky and last season at Kansas State, who took over the night.
He posted just the second double-double of his college career. He scored 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a one-possession loss to Florida as a sophomore at Kentucky.
Tuesday night, Onyenso said Odom’s patience working with him and confidence in his game has helped Onyenso elevate his level of play.
In particular, Onyenso said Odom and the UVA staff have given him the confidence to shoot 3-pointers. Against Hampton, he knocked down the first two 3s of his career.
“I know how to shoot the basketball,” Onyenso said. “I also have the coaches’ confidence behind me. They’re encouraging me. They’re pushing me.”
The 7-foot, 245-pound Nigerian was recruited to Virginia largely for his shot blocking and his rebounding, but Odom said he quickly showed the staff he had a more complete game to offer.
Still, Onyenso doesn’t mind having shot blocking as his signature skill, something he made abundantly clear after swatting four shots against Hampton.
“I’m one of the best shot blockers in the country. C’mon now,” Onyenso said. “I’m not trying to be cocky. But I take pride in my defense.”
Michael Eley came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points for the Pirates and was HU’s only double-digit scorer.
