#4 South Carolina vs UVa in Jan. ‘71. Parkhill sank a baseline jumper over Kevin Joyce with 7 seconds left and Virginia won by one.
UNC vs UVa in ‘75. It was Coach Holland’s first year and prior to the season Coach Smith had said Virginia wasn’t going to win a conference game that year. Carolina tried going to the “Four Corners” late in the game, but Tommy Briscoe (sp?) hounded Phil Ford all over the court and the Cavs won. U Hall was more than a bit loud.
Lastly, UNC vs UVa in ‘81. After being down at the half, Lee Raker and Othell Wilson led a second half rally which defeated the ‘heels. Again, the foundations of U Hall were shaking.
Edit to add: For the South Carolina game, students began lining up at U Hall around 4 PM (if not earlier for some) for an 8 PM game (students didn’t need tickets in those days; just their student IDs). It was the first time I had ever seen U Hall packed, and the win signaled a real change in the perception of the program.
1982 game that we lost but the 2 teams had more NBA talent on the court than any other game I have seen in person. Crowd at U-Hall was electric and hyper for #1 UNC vs #2 UVA. UNC had Jordan, Worthy, and Perkins. We had Sampson, Carlise, Wilson. We lost 65-60 but watching Sampson battle that much talent was amazing. Just unlucky that during our Sampson years UNC happened to have one of their best teams ever.
UVA - 2014 ACC Championship - just started following the team that year since I knew I wanted to go there as my top choice, had gotten accepted a few months earlier and was able to get lower level seats amongst other UVA fans and just felt very validating that this school was the place for me.
Another nominee for me is the Hoos in the DeanDome when Tomas Woldetensae hit the winner from the corner on the pump fake fly by… I was like 20 rows up in that corner surrounded by Heels but below me was the Hoo section behind the bench going crazy… my Heel friend drove us that day … was the quietest 50 minute drive home I’ve ever experienced…
For me it might be Good Counsel vs Dematha played at GW. Good Counsel (my dad’s alma mater) lead by Roger Mason Jr. and Chris Monroe (an all time great at GW) vs Dematha who had Joe Forte and Keith Bogans. Good Counsel won.
Another would be UVa/Nova in 2015-2016. The most high level game I’ve ever seen live at the college level
Virginia played UNC three times that year. UVa won in Charlottesville, but, in the two losses, Othell Wilson missed either the entire game, or significant minutes at the end of the game. I still believe with a healthy Wilson, Virginia was the best team in the country that year.
February 25 , 1976 Hoos beat Tech in double OT. Game so exciting there were literally two heart attacks that night EMTs in UHall worked hard that night. The most intense atmosphere I exoerienced in U Hall.
Best game as to level of competition and quality of play was Hoos Nova game in 2017 at Comcast Center in Philly.
Great topic for us oldsters to reminisce. Thanks @CavTex ! Like @Fitz-Hoo , I was at both the Ralph vs Patrick game and Ralph’s last home game.
Had to camp out to get tickets for the game at the Cap Center. Ralph had a bad knee and the flu—after the game he had an IV. Yet he dominated Patrick in that game. After the game, the beltway was gridlocked in the snow. My roommate and I sat on the roof of the car drinking and heckling all of the Georgetown cars around us.
The final home game against Maryland was electric. I believe they oversold tickets for that game—there were definitely more butts than seats in the student section. But what I remember most is how deathly quiet it was before Ralph’s second free throw, then the eruption following the Craig Robinson tip out to Ralph for the game winner. Never heard U Hall as loud before or since.
Only game I have seen UVA play in the Dean Dome. I have played on the floor and since seen Tennessee play there. I got a ticket hookup and sat behind the bench so figured id roll down to Chapel Hill for those kind of seats.
I considered including that game, too. It was loud and electric. My hands were practically raw at the end from clapping. I can’t remember how many times Billy Langloh attempted to end the game with a last second shot in the lane.
Fun fact re: Uva b cheat with Jordan. His last year at cheat they beat us here. Had seats in upper section directly behind the basket. One particular play Othell put up a lay up that I swear touched the top of the back board. MJ came across the lane to try to block it. His hand hit the top of the square. He missed the block and O’s layup was good. My friend and I looked at each other at the same time and we both said WTF.
Speaking of MJ does anyone actually believe the story that he wrote Holland a letter saying he wanted to be a hoo and play with Ralph?
Best non Hoo game 1966 Final 4 Texas Western vs Kentucky. The Duke/ Ky semi was also great.
I was also at the Tate George game v Clemson and the Laettner missed foul shot game v Arizona
My favorite Hoo game was the Cunningham 6 fouls game at Memorial Gym. Others include Ralph/Ewing, Ralph/ Missouri in the Meadowlands, NIT final vs. Minny, NCAA game vs BC in Nashville. Least favorite besides UMBC was Stiths last game v Cuse. He was fouled. I was in the first row under the basket.
I’ve been to hundreds of Pro and College games in my 82 years, but the best basketball game ever was on TV in 2019 when Hunter threw the ball up in the air.
I went to the first round in 2019 but work kept me from the rest of the games.
I was at the UVA Duke game at Cameron in 2018. I was in the student section and screamed so loudly when Jerome hit that three. I got booed by the entire student section, it was legendary.
