Virginia Routes Arkansas 91-72 in Capital Showcase
No. 9 Virginia beat No. 12 Arkansas in Washington, D.C., as Coach John Calipari removed three pigeons from the court during play.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
No. 9 Virginia defeated No. 12 Arkansas 91-72 on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in the Skyscanner Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The game drew 10,977 fans and was briefly interrupted when three pigeons flew onto the hardwood.
Why it matters
The win gives Virginia a strong early-season result against a ranked opponent in a neutral-site showcase. The game's pigeon interruption drew attention beyond the scoreboard, highlighting the unusual on-court moment.
Thijs de Ridder led Virginia with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and he was the only Virginia starter to reach double figures in the 91-72 win over the No. 12 Arkansas team. Attendance at the game was 10,977, while the extraction does not provide advanced metrics or team shooting splits.
The players
John Calipari
John Calipari is the head men's basketball coach at Arkansas and a well-known figure in college basketball who coached multiple NCAA tournament teams.
Thijs de Ridder
Thijs de Ridder is a Virginia men's basketball player who led his team in scoring and rebounding in this game.
The details
Three pigeons flew around the arena and landed on the court during the game. John Calipari jogged from his spot in front of the bench and shooed all three birds off the hardwood while the crowd cheered, after Arkansas's Billy Richmond had already moved one pigeon off the court.
Timeline
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Virginia defeated Arkansas 91-72 in the Skyscanner Capital Showcase.
Season Trajectory
The win gives Virginia an early-season marker against a ranked opponent in a high-profile neutral-site showcase. Games like this one, featuring unexpected on-court disruptions, tend to draw national attention to early-season matchups that might otherwise receive limited coverage.
Virginia's win improves its early-season resume against a ranked opponent, which can matter for postseason seeding conversations later in the year. The 91-72 score and Thijs de Ridder's 16-point, 10-rebound line are useful reference points for fantasy and betting followers tracking Virginia's frontcourt production.
The takeaway
Early-season showcase games can produce both competitive results and unexpected moments that broaden their audience. For college basketball followers, Virginia's win is an early signal of the team's depth and frontcourt production.
Further reading
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