Jacari White’s 26-point performance, highlighted by six 3-pointers, propelled No. 3 seed Virginia to an 82-73 first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Wright State, ending a years-long drought of early exits and setting up a second-round clash with Tennessee.
PHILADELPHIA — In a moment heavy with the weight of past failures, Virginia finally exhaled. Jacari White erased years of first-round heartbreak with a 26-point masterpiece, leading the Cavaliers to an 82-73 victory over Wright State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
The win snaps a three-tournament streak of first-round or First Four exits for Virginia since their 2019 national championshipAP. First-year coach Ryan Odom, who famously led UMBC to the historic 2018 upset of Virginia as a No. 16 seed, now has his own shining moment in Charlottesville.
Odom, a lifelong Virginia fan who served as a ball boy for the program in his youth, showed his players a video mixing the 2019 championship highlights with this season’s best plays before the game. “Now we actually have some footage” of a tournament win, Odom said with a laugh afterwardAP.
Wright State (24-11), a Horizon League champion and 14-seed, entered as an 18.5-point underdog but matched Virginia blow for blow for much of the nightAP. Michael Imariagbe‘s 19 points and late 3-pointer pulled the Raiders within 78-73 with under a minute left, silencing the pro-Virginia crowd in Philadelphia. But White answered immediately with a driving layup to seal the game.
White’s supporters, known as the “Jacarmy” for their military green attire, were loud and proud throughout. Their hero did not disappoint.
The Weight of History
For Virginia, this win wasn’t just about advancing—it was about erasing a narrative of March failure. Since their 2019 title, the Cavaliers had become the poster child for tournament disappointment. The exits were brutal and varied:
- 2021: First-round loss to Ohio
- 2023: First-round upset by Furman
- 2024: First Four loss to Colorado State
Each loss reinforced the doubt that Virginia’s system, while dominant in the regular season, could not withstand the pressure of MarchAP. Add in the sudden retirement of legendary coach Tony Bennett before last season, and the program seemed adrift. Odom’s arrival offered hope, but the shadow of past collapses lingered.
Odom’s Full-Circle Journey
The irony of Odom coaching Virginia to this win is almost too perfect. In 2018, as head coach of UMBC, he orchestrated one of the greatest upsets in sports history: a No. 16 seed beating a No. 1 for the first time ever. That team was Virginia.
Yet Odom never weaponized that history with his current players. Instead, he focused on building a new identity. His deep roots in Charlottesville—his father was an assistant under Terry Holland, and young Ryan was a ball boy—gave him a personal stake in restoring Virginia’s gloryAP. Now, with 30 wins in his first season, he has Vintage Hall written all over his program.
Odom is the fourth coach to lead Virginia to an NCAA Tournament win, but the first to do it since Bennett’s 2019 title run. The “One Shining Moment” video he showed the team before the game now includes this victory.
Wright State’s Season of Firsts
For Wright State, the loss ended a dream season that defied expectations. Coach Clint Sargent, in his second year, transformed the program from a 15-18 record to Horizon League regular-season and tournament champions for the first time in school historyAP.
“We were well connected off court, which brought it on court,” said Solomon Callaghan, who scored 18 points and buried three critical 3sAP. TJ Burch added 15 points, and the Raiders hit 13 3-pointers, matching Virginia’s total in a high-scoring affair.
Wright State’s tournament appearance was only the fifth in program history, and their first since 2022. They came terrifyingly close to becoming the first 14-seed to win since 2024, but White’s poise in the final minute proved too much.
Looking Ahead: Tennessee Looms
Virginia (30-5) advances to face sixth-seeded Tennessee on Sunday in the Midwest RegionAP Bracket. The Cavaliers have won 14 of their last 16 games, but Tennessee presents a different challenge: a physical, defensive-minded team that could test Virginia’s offensive rhythm.
The key for Virginia will be replicating the balanced scoring and defensive stops that defined Friday’s win. Sam Lewis added 12 points after a hard first-half fall, and the bench contributed key minutes. Against Tennessee, every possession will be magnified.
Fan Reaction and Bracket Impact
Social media erupted after the final buzzer. The “Jacarmy” trended locally in Virginia, and bracketologists quickly revised their projections. Many now see the Cavaliers as a legitimate Final Four contender after years of underachieving.
The loss stings for Wright State, but their performance earned widespread respect. A 14-seed pushing a 3-seed to the final minute is the kind of March story that lives on in highlights. For Virginia, the narrative has shifted from “can they win?” to “how far can they go?”AP Bracket.
This win is more than a first-round victory—it’s a catharsis. For a program haunted by past upsets, Friday night offered redemption. And in Jacari White, they found the hero who delivered it.
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