This week, we are diving into all things basketball as we hit on our summer content. Yesterday, we ripped the bandaid off regarding Virginia’s brutal loss to UMBC, so to pick you all back up, we’re counting down the 10 best moments of the season.
Let’s get straight to it.
10. Dominating Virginia Tech in Blacksburg
It’s always fun to just obliterate the Hokies. DeAndre Hunter led the way with 14 points as the Hoos shot 49% from the field and 48% from three.
9. Ty Jerome’s career-high 31 points vs. Boston College
The rest of the game was pretty unremarkable and forgettable (minus the double defensive stand to secure the win), but Jerome went OFF against the Eagles as he went 11-for-17 from the field and 6-for-9 from three.
8. Holding North Carolina under 50 points
Any time the Heels come to town, it’s going to be a good game. Virginia forced 19 turnovers and got 16 points from Devon Hall in the win. The Hoos held UNC to just 21 second half points and 49 in the game. North Carolina hasn’t won in Charlottesville since 2012.
7. Becoming No. 1 for the first time
On February 12, 2018, the Hoos became the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since December 1982. Virginia would spend the last five weeks atop the AP Poll (they don’t do a post-season poll), with the final two weeks seeing the Hoos as the unanimous favorite. Rankings aren’t the end-all-be-all, and obviously they’re no surefire indicator of future success, but I have no shame in saying it was fun to see the Cavaliers as the No. 1 team for the first time in my life.
6. DeAndre Hunter “baptizes the masses” against Miami
I just don’t even know what else to say. Just watch and enjoy:
5. Jack Salt lays a soul-crushing screen against NC State
I almost put this higher on this list because it’s just that incredible.
Jack Salt with the screen. Devon Hall with the three.
— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) January 15, 2018
Play of the game? Play of the game. #GoHoos #Wahoowa pic.twitter.com/9j8OqJiUKo
4. DeAndre Hunter ends Joel Berry with a monstrous dunk
As mentioned above, the Hoos handled the Heels at home, holding the then-reigning champs to under 50 points. This move, however, deserves it’s own post:
The dunk was so good, we had to break down the bench reactions.
3. Winning at Cameron Indoor
Not a single player on Virginia’s roster was alive the last time the Cavaliers escaped Cameron Indoor Stadium with a win over Duke. The Hoos emerged victorious in Durham for the first time since 1995 as Kyle Guy had 17 points, Devon Hall had 14, and Ty Jerome had 13.
Virginia led by 10 points at the half before Duke switched to a zone defense. Although the Hoos still got open shots, Duke was able to close the gap and make it a game in the second half. When all was said and done, it was one of the better games of the season and a marquee victory for the Hoos.
Hold up I need to see this again...
Nothing will ever take that memory from me, especially as it quieted the Cameron Crazies around me.
2. Virginia’s epic comeback against Louisville
It’s months later, I still can’t believe this happened. DeAndre may have hit the game winner, but Ty Jerome straight willed the Hoos to victory. He finished with 21 points, and had 11 of them over the last 3:07 including an unreal three with seven seconds left. Jerome had the wherewithal to pump fake on his next three attempt with 0.9 seconds left, drawing three free throws with the score sitting at 66-62. The rest, is history.
LOL that’s just bonkers.
1. ACC Championship
The Cavaliers earned their second ACC tournament title in five years, and it was glorious. Virginia took down Louisville (for the third time this season) in the first round of the tournament after receiving a double-bye as the top-seed. Clemson fell next, and the Hoos squared off with the Tar Heels for the title. Kyle Guy led Virginia with 16 points, and Devon Hall chipped in 15 of his own.
What was your favorite moment of the year?