By Jerry Ratcliffe
Ugonna Onyenso was the seven-foot monster hiding under Virginia Tech coach Mike Young’s bed on Saturday when the Hokies visited Charlottesville, hoping for an upset win and a better argument for getting off the NCAA bubble.
Onyenso, known to his Virginia teammates simply as “Ugo,” had other plans, plans to ruin Tech’s day. The senior center, playing his last game at John Paul Jones Arena, made it count with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in UVA’s 76-72 win over its state rival.
Two of Ugo’s five field goals were 3-point baskets — the second, a late-game dagger that caused Young to question himself in the postgame drama.
The Hokies had drawn to within 67-63 with 2:32 to play when Ugo launched a bomb from behind the arc and increased the UVA lead to 70-63. On the ensuing Tech possession, the seven-footer stole the ball, then spoon-fed fast breaking guard Sam Lewis jetting down the court, with Tech fouling him to avoid a layup. Suddenly the Cavaliers were up nine with 85 seconds to play, then fought off a late Hokies bid for the win.
But it was the 3-pointer that was an unexpected dagger into the midsection of Tech’s upset hopes, and perhaps its NCAA hopes as well.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
Young was distraught when he entered the press interview room after the game, placing both hands over his head and then:
“And number 33 [Onyenso], c’mon man, give me a break. Really? Kid makes two huge threes. Come on. What the f*** am I doing wrong, man.”
Distraught Virginia Tech coach Mike Young: “No. 33 (Onyenso), come on man. Give me a break. Really? Kid makes two huge threes. Come on. What the f*** am I doing wrong, man” pic.twitter.com/xo1JlmYbxw
— Jerry Ratcliffe (@JerryRatcliffe) March 7, 2026
Ugo, who previously played at Kentucky and Kansas State, has blossomed this season in Ryan Odom’s program. Odom, who believes Onyenso has an NBA future, also thinks he should be the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
“Ugo was a monster,” Odom said of his big man. “His shot was huge and just his overall play.”
Consider that Onyenso has 80 blocks on the season with limited court time because he has a timeshare on the center position with German freshman Johann Grünloh, who starts. The 80 swats are the sixth-most in a season by a Virginia player (the top four spots all belong to Ralph Sampson).
Ugo has blocked 16.5 percent of opposing 2-point field goal attempts, which leads the ACC and is second in the nation. UVA’s 193 blocks on the season — mostly by Onyenso and Grünloh — are a new program record and one of the big reasons why the Cavaliers are ranked No. 15 nationally in the kenpom.com defensive efficiency ratings.
Everyone who puts together a scouting report on Virginia is well aware of the center duo, human versions of a ceiling fan wiping out a roomful of balloons. Not everyone is prepared for Ugo’s ability to occasionally nail a 3-pointer.
He’s made 9 this season (out of 32 attempts), which was later pointed out to Young, who shot back, yeah, but only three in ACC play. True (SMU, Louisville and Pitt) until Saturday when he hit two, the first one in Virginia’s early-game, 3-point barrage of the Hokies that led to a 22-5 lead only seven minutes into the game and a 41-25 halftime lead.
Ugo, who was discouraged to shoot at Kansas State last season, was given the green light by Odom from the beginning of this season.
Even so, the big man was reluctant at times, something he decided a few days ago to bury in his psyche.
“Coming into this game, I said to myself, ‘Don’t think about it. Do not think about it. If you catch the ball, let it fly,” Onyenso said in the postgame. “That was my mindset coming to this game … let it fly. I don’t care what they say, just let it fly. Moving forward, I’m not going to think about it, just let it fly.”
Odom said that Onyenso works on the 3-point shot every day.
“Today, he stepped right in and let it go,” Odom said. “He’s had some hesitant moments over the last couple of weeks, and [today] he did it just like he practices.”
Saturday, Ugo indeed let it fly and Young is probably still cursing.
This time, the Monster won.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
