The Cavaliers knew they were going to have to find ways to make shots, and that is where the free-throw line came into play.

Remember the gut punch Florida State delivered to an NCAA-hopeful Virginia late last February when Matthew Cleveland drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Cavaliers, 64-63?

Third-ranked Virginia begins its 70th season of ACC competition Saturday at home against a struggling Florida State team at 2 p.m., but don’t expect Tony Bennett to be taking the matchup with the Seminoles lightly.

This is the Cavaliers’ first 9-0 start to a season since 1991 and their first nine-game win streak since the 2008-09 season. This is Virginia’s first victory in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge since 2012.

There was nothing like a quick wardrobe change and some textbook Tony Bennett halftime adjustments to get No. 3 Virginia refocused in a dramatic comeback at Michigan on Tuesday night in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

UVA coach Tony Bennett said after Wednesday’s matchup with Michigan that you can never win a tough game without a little grit and fight. His No. 3 Virginia team displayed both as it erased an 11-point halftime deficit and went ahead to stay on a Jayden Gardner elbow jumper with 39 seconds remaining.

The Virginia women’s basketball team takes on Penn State on Wednesday at 7 p.m., in an ACC-Big Ten Challenge game at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa.

Tony Bennett couldn’t help but wonder how his Virginia basketball team would handle big-time competition when the Cavaliers took on ranked Baylor and Illinois teams in Las Vegas over a week ago.

The Virginia men’s basketball team has moved up to No. 3 in the national AP top 25 poll, jumping from fifth place in last week’s poll.

The Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference and ESPN announced Monday the formation of the ACC/SEC Challenge for men’s and women’s basketball, which will begin as part of the 2023-24 season.

UVA (8-0) is off to its best start since the 1992-93 season, and on Sunday against the Pirates, dominating the glass was a major factor in terms of why the Cavaliers are still unbeaten.

The Virginia women’s basketball team is off to its best start in 30 years, as the Cavaliers improved to 7-0 after hanging on to defeat Minnesota, 73-70, in the opener of the Cavalier Classic Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena.

Kadin Shedrick once again proved that he is becoming a high-quality player in the post on both ends of the floor as he displayed a myriad of activities to push Virginia forward.

Lord only knows how challenging it was for Jayden Gardner to have been Virginia’s workhorse last season when he was both the team’s leading scorer and rebounder.

Virginia senior forward Jayden Gardner broke out of his scoring slump in a big way against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Friday night, pouring in a game-high and season-high 26 points as the Cavaliers improved to 5-0 with an easy 72-45 win.

The Virginia women’s basketball team hosts the Cavalier Classic Tournament Saturday and Sunday at John Paul Jones Arena. Minnesota, East Carolina and Liberty will be playing in the tournament.

After a successful weekend in Las Vegas, Virginia returns to John Paul Jones Arena Friday night to face Maryland-Eastern Shore.

The Virginia women’s basketball team moved to 6-0 for the first time since the 1997-98 season with a gritty 62-41 win over visiting Campbell Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

UVA, SMU, Wisconsin and West Virginia will compete in the early-season event, scheduled for Nov. 20-22. The tournament will be played at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers.

The Virginia women’s basketball team hosts Campbell on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.