Five on five: Virginia and Louisville a tight matchup after Seth Trimble addition

Continuing the five on five series, Louisville comes to John Paul Jones area to face Virginia in the lone regular season matchup between these two ACC contenders.

The Cardinals loaded up with an utterly massive transfer haul — including one of the nation’s top centers. On the other end, the Cavaliers are rerunning a majority of their roster from a strong 2025-26 campaign. This should end up being a must-watch game in the ACC. Here is how the starting lineups stack up in August:

PG: Chance Mallory (So.) versus Jackson Shelstad (Sr.)

Mallory’s 2025-26: 0 GS, 36 GP, 24.1 MPG, 9.3 PPG, 3.4 APG, 3.7 RPG, 42.2% FG, 34.5% 3PT

Shelstad’s 2025-26 (Oregon): 12 GS, 12 GP, 34.8 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 4.9 APG, 2.9 RPG, 39.1% FG, 31.4% 3PT

This will be one of the most intriguing positional matchups during the game. Shelstad has superstar talent, but is unproven in the ACC and is coming off of a nasty hand injury. Mallory, meanwhile, has pole position for a superb breakout season. Shelstad will be seriously challenged on defense against the speedy Mallory in Charlottesville. Louisville could end up having a slight edge, but this will be a very close battle.

Advantage: Even

SG: Jurian Dixon (R-Jr.) versus Seth Trimble (Gr.)

Dixon’s 2025-26 (UC Irvine): 35 GS, 35 GP, 30.4 MPG, 15.9 PPG, 2.5 APG, 3.6 RPG, 43.0% FG, 38.5% 3PT

Trimble’s 2025-26 (North Carolina): 24 GS, 24 GP, 32.4 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 3.8 RPG, 47.1% FG, 28.6% 3PT

Last night, Dixon versus Adrian Wooley could have been a matchup that goes Virginia’s way. This morning, ESPN broke news that former North Carolina guard Seth Trimble has transferred to Louisville (based on five in five injunction). Trimble is a versatile player, and an elite supporting player for this Cardinals team.

Advantage: Louisville

SF: Sam Lewis (Sr.) versus Karter Knox (Jr.)

Lewis’ 2025-26: 35 GS, 36 GP, 25.4 MPG, 10.6 PPG, 1.4 APG, 3.6 RPG, 45.5% FG, 40.3% 3PT

Knox’s 2025-26 (Arkansas): 18 GS, 22 GP, 22.1 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 1.2 APG, 4.5 RPG, 46.0% FG, 37.7% 3PT

Knox perhaps went underrated in the portal this offseason — but Lewis is poised for a prolific scoring season and will seriously test Louisville’s perimeter defense. Knox has the edge athletically, but Lewis’ proven production and potential greatly outweigh Knox’s.

Advantage: Virginia

PF: Thijs De Ridder (So.) versus Alvaro Folgueiras (Sr.)

De Ridder’s 2025-26: 36 GS, 36 GP, 27.7 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 1.6 APG, 6.2 RPG, 50.8% FG, 35.7% 3PT

Folgueiras’ 2025-26 (Iowa): 1 GS, 37 GP, 20.7 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 2.2 APG, 3.6 RPG, 50.5% FG, 33.3% 3PT

This is a major mismatch. Folgueiras may be a versatile, electric modern stretch big, but he does not have the oomph down low to battle the bruising De Ridder. Folgueiras is one of the best "big guy shooters" in the country — this is just a bad matchup for the new Cardinal.

Advantage: Virginia

C: Johann Grunloh (So.) versus Flory Bidunga (Jr.)

Grunloh’s 2025-26: 36 GS, 36 GP, 21.0 MPG, 7.1 PPG, 0.6 APG, 5.2 RPG, 53.3% FG, 35.0% 3PT

Bidunga’s 2025-26 (Kansas): 34 GS, 35 GP, 31.6 MPG, 13.3 PPG, 1.5 APG, 9.0 RPG, 64.0% FG, 0.0% 3PT

Perhaps Grunloh will improve with increased physical development and more minutes — but Bidunga should be the best center in the ACC. He was a star at Kansas and is one of the most physically powerful players in the country. Bidunga will likely have an advantage over every center he faces this regular season.

Advantage: Louisville

Verdict: Even

The Cavaliers have had Louisville’s number over the past several seasons, but this year could be different. Even though Ryan Odom’s system is a nightmare matchup for Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals team — and Virginia is playing at home — Kelsey’s incredible portal haul could make a difference.

This should be a basketball game that feels like late March.

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