- Matchup: Wright State Raiders vs Virginia Cavaliers
- Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
- Broadcast: TBS
- Betting Odds: Virginia -18
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In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the Virginia Cavaliers (29-5) face off against the Wright State Raiders (23-11) at Xfinity Mobile Arena this Friday. Wright State enters the game as 18-point underdogs, with the over/under set at 145.5 points.
The Wright State Raiders secured a narrow victory against Detroit, finishing the game at 66-63. In this contest, Wright State committed 17 fouls compared to Detroit’s 23 and managed to make 4 of their 10 three-point attempts. Detroit, on the other hand, performed well at the free throw line, making 17 of 19 shots for an impressive 89.5% success rate. The Detroit team recorded a total of 35 rebounds (10 offensive and 25 defensive), with no blocks registered. They also contributed 12 assists and created 5 steals during the game. Defensively, Wright State allowed Detroit to shoot 35.0% from the field, with their opponents connecting on 21 of 60 shots. The Raiders managed to assist on 11 baskets, force 11 turnovers, and had 4 steals. Regarding rebounding, they tallied 38 boards, with 11 being offensive. At the charity stripe, Wright State converted 16 of their 26 free throw attempts, achieving a 61.5% conversion rate. They concluded the game with a field goal percentage of 39.7% (23 out of 58) while sinking 4 out of 17 shots from beyond the arc.
TJ Burch stood out in the last game, contributing 19 points on 7 of 14 shooting over 27 minutes. He also recorded 2 rebounds and 3 assists, showcasing his efficient shooting at a 50.0% clip.
The Raiders enter this matchup with a record of 23-11 for the season. Their offensive average stands at 80.7 points per game (71st in the nation) with a field goal percentage of 48.8%. Wright State shoots 36.1% from three-point range (241 of 667) and has a free throw percentage of 73.6%. The team averages 35.4 rebounds per game and has accumulated 469 assists this season, ranking 145th nationally in assists. Wright State averages 11.3 turnovers and commits approximately 17.4 fouls per game.
Defensively, the Raiders force an average of 12.0 turnovers per game and draw 18.5 fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 33.0% from three-point land, ranking 170th nationally in points per game allowed (73.4). Wright State has conceded a field goal percentage of 45.7% (897 of 1,963) and surrenders an average of 31.3 rebounds per contest. They rank 99th in Division I regarding assists allowed, having given up 403 assists this season.
In their last outing, the Virginia Cavaliers faced a tough loss against Duke, ending 74-70. Virginia managed 35 rebounds (24 defensively, 11 offensively) while committing 10 turnovers and securing 5 steals. Duke racked up 16 personal fouls, leading to 16 free throw attempts for the Cavaliers, who converted 14 for an impressive 87.5%. Virginia shot 33.3% from outside, making 8 out of 24 attempts, and registered a field goal percentage of 44.4% by completing 24 of 54 shots. They allowed Duke to shoot 38.5% overall, as their opponents made 25 of 65 shots. Duke also went 32% from beyond the arc, hitting 8 of 25, while Virginia finished 16 of 20 at the free throw line (80.0%). In terms of rebounding defense, Virginia permitted Duke to collect 21 total rebounds (7 offensive).
Malik Thomas emerged as a key player, scoring 18 points in 30 minutes without an assist. He shot 46.2% from the field, making 6 out of 13 attempts, alongside 2 rebounds.
Virginia holds a record of 29-5 this season and commits 17.6 personal fouls on average. They convert 72.6% of their free throws and assist 16.6 times per game (43rd in the nation), averaging 10.8 turnovers. The Cavaliers have racked up 2,742 points this year (80.6 per game) and secure 40.2 rebounds per contest. Their offensive shooting stands at 46.3%, placing them 108th in college basketball.
On the defensive side, Virginia is 44th nationally in points allowed per game, giving up 68.4. They force an average of 10.6 turnovers and limit opponents to 39.5% shooting (13th in Division I). The Cavaliers’ defense restricts opponents to 30.9% shooting from beyond the arc (233 of 755) and allows a free throw success rate of 75.8%. They surrender 11.8 assists and 32.8 rebounds per game, ranking 55th and 76th in Division I.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA match against the spread?
Prediction: Take Virginia (-18)
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