CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — A pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball showdown is set for Saturday when Virginia hosts Miami (FL) at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers (23-3, 14-2 ACC), riding a nine-game winning streak, will face a surging Hurricanes squad (21-5, 12-4) that has won seven of its last eight. The matchup features two of the league’s top teams battling for postseason positioning in late February. Virginia, known for its methodical pace and suffocating pack-line defense, is coming off a dominant 94-68 road win at Georgia Tech. A key player for the Cavaliers is forward Thijs De Ridder, who scored 22 points in just 21 minutes in that victory. Over his last eight games, De Ridder has averaged 15.8 points, including a 32-point outburst in a double-overtime win at Notre Dame on Jan. 27. Miami counters with high-scoring guard Tre Donaldson, who is in the midst of a stellar stretch. Donaldson is averaging 17.9 points over his last seven contests, capped by a career-high 32 points in Tuesday’s narrow 67-66 home win over Virginia Tech. His ability to create offense, both for himself and teammates, will be critical against Virginia’s staunch defense. The Hurricanes have shown resilience in close games, with their last three wins each coming by a single point. Their offense, which averages 77.2 points per game, will be tested by a Virginia defense that allows a nation-leading 55.8 points per contest. Virginia’s only conference loss at home this season was an 85-80 defeat to North Carolina on Jan. 24. Miami will look to replicate that up-tempo success, but must navigate a hostile environment where the Cavaliers are 13-1 this season. This game could have significant implications for the ACC regular-season title race and seeding for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.