ACC Battle: Virginia vs UNC Rivalry | Virginia Cavalier Basketball News

The ACC is heating up for 2026-27, with Virginia and Duke locked in as top dogs while North Carolina, under new coach Mike Malone, struggles to catch up. Despite Malone’s NBA pedigree, UNC’s quick turnaround may not be enough to beat Virginia — especially on the road. Point guard battle favors UNC’s senior Terrence Brown over Virginia’s Chance Mallory, but Virginia edges ahead at shooting guard (Jurian Dixon) and small forward (Sam Lewis). Power forward? Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder dominates Jarin Stevenson, and while centers Johann Grunloh and Cameron Fens could make it close, Virginia’s coaching continuity and depth give them the edge in this heated rivalry. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/01c5c4629975489f