Right before football season began, I compiled my top-10 list of the best Virginia football games I had attended in person. Now, with men’s basketball right around the corner, here’s my list for that sport. Before I start, I’d like to give a shout out to the Virginia women’s basketball game against Maryland last year, which I went to as well. The Cavaliers won 89-81 in a great contest and that game would earn a spot in a more general top-10 list. Coach Debbie Ryan gave all she had on the same day she attended friend and former N.C. state basketball coach Kay Yow’s funeral. Ryan’s players came through for her when they beat the No. 8 Terrapins behind 30 points from Lyndra Littles, 28 points from Monica Wright and a double-double from Aisha Mohammed.

I don’t have the same history with Virginia men’s basketball that I do with football, so the games are all home games — mostly from my first three years as a student, though I did attend a few before that time. One of the wildest games I remember from a while ago was a 115-111 triple overtime home-loss to Georgetown on Mar. 15, 2000 in the first round of the NIT. Aside from the triple overtime aspect, my dad and I always talk about this annoying Hoya fan who sat near us and would say “That’s cash” before almost every Georgetown shot. A lot of them went in, too. I’m pretty sure I hated him during the game, but it’s funny to think about him now. Anyway, on to the list.

No. 10: Jan. 6, 2001; Virginia 88 N.C. St. 81

One of a few games I attended during the 2000-01 season, I chose this one not only for its standalone greatness, but also because this was a superb overall year for Virginia, which also defeated Duke 91-89 at home and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Against N.C. State, Roger Mason, Jr. led the Cavaliers with 26 points, including 10 in a row in the second half, culminating in a three-pointer with 3:34 left that tied the game at 73. Virginia was down five at halftime and 11 in the second half but roared back and won with 53 second–half points.

No. 9: Jan. 3, 2007; Virginia 108 Gonzaga 87

The Cavaliers won by 21, but it wasn’t really that close. Sean Singletary posted a then-career high 37 points and Virginia put on a three-point shooting clinic, making a school record 18 three-pointers to completely demolish the Adam Morrison-less Bulldogs. The score was 60-26 at halftime. Enough said.

No. 8: Feb. 18, 2009; Virginia 75 Virginia Tech 61

This win against Tech was especially sweet. The previous year, the Hokies defeated the Cavaliers twice in overtime heartbreakers. Deron Washington’s driving lay-up to win at John Paul Jones arena was especially gut-wrenching. The crowd was into the 2009 contest after just beating No. 12 Clemson three days earlier. Another plus was that bone-headed Hokie Jeff Allen had to sit out after making an obscene gesture toward Maryland fans during a game four days earlier.

No. 7: Mar. 24, 2008; Virginia 80 Old Dominion 76

Yes, it was a College Basketball Invitational tournament game, but the finish was spectacular nevertheless. If Singletary had a curtain call game for his terrific career, this was it. He tallied 22 points and 10 assists, but his late-game heroics were even more memorable. Singletary tied the game at 75 with a banked-in three-pointer with 26 seconds remaining, then stole the ball from Brandon Johnson, rushed down the court and was fouled while making the go-ahead lay-up. Six points in 26 seconds. Wow.

No. 6: Mar. 1, 2007; Virginia 69 Virginia Tech 56

After the season fans endured last year, this game seems like it occurred much longer ago than it really did. Incredibly, it was for first place in the ACC and Virginia played like it, exacting revenge for a 27-point loss to the Hokies in Blacksburg. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers lost on the road in their next game to Wake Forest, failing to capture the ACC regular season title outright. For everything that was on the line in this game, however, a victory vaulted it into the top 10.

No. 5: Mar. 7, 2009; Virginia 68 Maryland 63

A regular season of frustration culminated in a rousing victory for the Cavaliers’ last year. Maryland fans created a Facebook event and decided to invade the student section at JPJ, creating a very hostile atmosphere. I think that fired up the home-crowd as well. Mamadi Diane — who suffered through a subpar senior season — led Virginia in his swan song with 23 points, breaking a 61-all tie with a huge three-pointer and only 39 seconds remaining.

No. 4: Feb. 15, 2009: Virginia 85 Clemson 81 OT

On the day that Virginia honored Singletary by retiring the No. 44, the Cavaliers made the day truly special with a seemingly unexpected win against the then-No. 12 Tigers. Sylven Landesberg scored 23 points — six in overtime — and made the game-tying bucket with 13.4 seconds left in regulation. Four other Virginia players scored in double digits, representing a balanced attack — something it had been lacking all year. Virginia overcame the sharp shooting of Clemson’s Terrence Oglesby — who made five three-pointers — and snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win. And yes, I rushed the court with about 10 other people, but it was still really cool.

No. 3: Mar. 9, 2008: Virginia 91 Maryland 76

On senior day, Singletary’s jersey was retired and he scored 27 points, crossing the 2,000 point barrier in the process. Near the game’s end, Singletary threw an alley-oop jam to both Diane and Jamil Tucker, who kind of combined on the “jam” part. It was a thing of beauty. As a bonus, the Cavaliers dealt a damaging blow to the Terrapins’ NCAA Tournament hopes.

No. 2: Feb. 1, 2007: Virginia 68 Duke 66 OT

Many of my friends with whom I discussed this column topic would have put this game at No. 1, but really, it is interchangeable with the Arizona game described below, and both were mind-blowing games. I think for this game, one only needs to say “the shot,” and Singletary’s game-winning floater in overtime comes to mind. The image of Singletary being able to get the ball over the outstretched arm of Josh McRoberts while almost parallel to the floor is emblazoned in my mind forever. Add the fact that the win came during a great season and that it was against powerhouse Duke simply puts this game over-the-top.

No. 1: Nov. 12, 2006: Virginia 93 Arizona 90

Several factors make this game No. 1: first game in shiny new JPJ and all the festivities that went along with that, a big-time opponent, my first basketball game as a student, the 19-point comeback and a high-scoring affair — this one had it all. Singletary even made a dunk right in the midst of Virginia’s big second-half comeback. I’m sure all of my fellow fourth-year peers hold this as a cherished memory of their college careers. Okay, maybe we didn’t rush the court, but no one really knew the protocol then in the new massive arena or what would have happened had anyone tried. Still, this game, the atmosphere — everything — came together that night to create a truly special memory.

That’s my list. Please feel free to e-mail me at amp9f@virginia.edu or comment on my article with your own memorable game experiences. Hopefully, we can add a game or two to this list as the Tony Bennett era begins.