Ranking Virginia’s 2019-20 basketball games, part 3: The Top 10

The first and second installments in our three-part series ranking each and every 2019-20 Virginia basketball game are complete. Now it’s time to decide which among the top 10 deserves the top spot. There were a host of simply amazing games to choose from, but only one game can be named the best. . .

Bear in mind that these rankings include the context of the time, and don’t just look at each as an individual game. For example, an emotionally charged game in late February or March is going to have an advantage over a game in, say, September.

These rankings are also compiled from a mostly Virginia standpoint, of course, though the impartial fan’s view of the game was taken into (slight) consideration.

10. Virginia 56 – 53 Virginia Tech

In part 2, Hoos looked to be taking apart Hokies yet again. The home team—playing in that dungeon of a building they call a stadium—scored a mere 11 points in the opening half. But then it all fell apart. It all came crashing down, and a heartbreaking loss seemed looming in the wings. Cue Kihei Clark. Another huge play in the late going to crush the hopes of the fading Hokies. Just how Tony drew it up, eh?

9. Virginia 46 – 44 Miami

You had to feel for Chris Lykes here. He was playing so well, having put Miami on his back to keep the game close. And then he was hit by his own guy and relegated to the training room for the end of it. His great play, matched with Jay Huff’s 17-straight points to start the first half, resulted in a close, tense game. It may have needed an extra period if Kihei Clark hadn’t been stupidly fouled to set him up for the game-winning free throws.

8. Notre Dame 49 – 50 Virginia (OT)

Virginia had very good big men this season. They looked utterly insignificant when they went up against John Mooney. Notre Dame’s walking double-double had 14 boards and 11 points. But Mamadi also went for 20 points. This was the beginning of the eventual eight-game winning streak, and it almost never happened. Hearts in our throats, we watched on as the Hoos survived two potential Notre Dame chances to win the game.

7. Virginia 73 – 80 Louisville

Virginia fought to the very end in what was an electrifying game in the Yum! Center. Louisville came out firing, hitting a number of threes in the first half to build to a 14-point halftime lead. What’s amazing about this game is that nobody ever lost confidence in their Hoos. They came back to tie it behind Kihei’s great play and Woldo’s absurd three-point shooting. It was a loss in the end, but a fantastic game.

6. Arizona State 45 – 48 Virginia

The first really close game for Virginia was the Casey Morsell coming out party—or so we thought. While Casey didn’t exactly live up to the hype generated from his 19 point—and game-winning three—performance, he did provide perhaps a taste of what we might hope to see in the future. It was another exciting game, and resulted in the one and only trophy of the season (though who knows, there could have been more forthcoming).

5. Virginia 50 – 54 Florida State

The road loss to Boston College and the overtime collapse against Syracuse were the two games that predated this one. A fanbase that had been at the heights of college basketball a mere 10 months ago was in chaos, watching its team flounder on the edge of the bubble. And then it watched on as that team went on the road and nearly knocked off a top-10 opponent. For that reason, it was a very intense game and also proved that this team could play with the very best.

4. Florida State 56 – 61 Virginia

The second meeting between the two was just—if not more—emotionally charged. Nothing had really been seen to dissuade those who took the view that the Hoos were going nowhere. Others took a more positive view, believing that it was only a matter of time. The addition of a top five opponent led to a wild JPJ. The people in attendance—students, alumni, and fans alike—were jumping. Mamadi Diakite, Kihei Clark, and Braxton Key were all magnificent, and the Hoos prevailed in the end over a very good FSU team. Virginia basketball was back.

3. Virginia 64 – 62 North Carolina

Viewed as an individual game, aside from the other going-ons of the time, this game has just as much of an argument as the best of the year as the next two. It was tight throughout, with the star players for both teams showing out. But the difference-maker was not one of the stars. He wasn’t even in the starting lineup a month prior. It was the Tomas Woldetensae show, with the Italian canning six threes in the game. It was only five, at least until the beautiful pump-fake and subsequent game-winner he hit with 0.3 seconds remaining.

2. Louisville 54 – 57 Virginia

Virginia basketball at its finest, it’s most pure. That’s what this game was. A packed house, a tight game against a top team, and great play from both sides. It was reminiscent of last year’s game between the same two teams, with the fans helping as the Hoos rallied to take the ACC title. This time, it was Louisville that needed to rally and make a comeback. Except on this occasion , that comeback fell short. A clutch three by Kihei Clark as the clock wound towards zero would bring the house down as well as win the game. The excitement in the building in the aftermath was palpable.

1. Duke 50 – 52 Virginia

There’s not much to choose between from these final two games. Both were emotionally charged, exciting games with great finishes. But this one was on another level. In what was later dubbed “the Jay Huff game,” the Hoos more or less cemented their spot in the big dance—though that turned out to be a moot point. Nevertheless, as Jay Huff dunked and blocked his way through the game, it was impossible not to get swept up into the fray. “HUFF, PUFF, MR. HUFF!” Dickie V’s comical—though completely accurate—refrain made its way through TV sets and into hearts, causing them to fill like a balloon as the monumental victory took place. A huge win, an emotional crowd, a career performance. . . It all resulted in a fantastic game. Virginia’s best one of the season, in fact.