Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – With speculation swirling around the University of Virginia’s men’s basketball coaching search, Dr. Bobby Chhabra, UVA Orthopedics Chair and Virginia Athletics correspondent, weighed in on the ongoing discussions. Following reports that Will Wade has accepted the NC State job, Chhabra suggested that Ryan Odom remains a strong contender for the Cavaliers. “I think we’re going to have Odom, although Villanova is also trying to hire Odom,” Chhabra said. “Hopefully, that’ll be announced soon because the transfer portal opens on Saturday.” 

As coaching vacancies continue to emerge nationwide, the competition for top candidates is intensifying. Chhabra acknowledged the potential financial challenges for UVA in securing Odom’s commitment. When asked if he saw a scenario where Virginia could lose the bidding war to the Villanova Wildcats he answered, “Yeah. I mean, of course.” With Texas and West Virginia also possibly in the mix for high-profile hires, UVA faces a pivotal decision as it looks to solidify its future leadership. 

The hiring process remains uncertain, much like past surprises in UVA’s coaching history. Reflecting on Tony Bennett’s hiring, it was noted that the decision was unexpected, recalling that they were not originally considering him. With social media speculation running wild, UVA fans eagerly await official confirmation, aware that securing the right coach is crucial as the transfer portal window approaches. 

Listen to the full conversation here: