As this is my third year as a UVA student, I've been around for several basketball teams by this point. I remember cheering on Malcolm Brogdon my first year, rooting for UVA as we made it to the Elite 8, and yelling till my voice was hoarse as we upset UNC in the ESPN College Gameday game.

However, I can honestly say that after watching UVA men's basketball leap out to a great start this season, I think this year's team is my favorite so far, for several reasons.

1. Their defense is better than ever

Tony Bennett has always been a defense-first coach, and this year UVA has shone itself once again to possess the most potent defense in just about all of college basketball. As of January 5th, UVA led the entire NCAA in scoring defense with an average of 52.7 points allowed per game, which is a full six points ahead of the next closest team. Though some may say that a good defense is "boring" to watch because the games are low scoring, I find it very exciting to watch this year's UVA team continuously make fantastic defensive stops and force turnovers. I'd much rather have a game with well-fought, 30-second possessions than one where teams just score back and forth.

2. They only play Duke and UNC once each

Duke and UNC are definitely two of UVA's biggest rivals, in the ACC and as threats in general, but luckily UVA only has to play one game against each of them this season. That's not to discount the other teams in the ACC, all of which are solid teams this year. However, historically, UVA's games against Duke and UNC tend to be among the most-talked about games of the year for UVA students. Whether that's due to a controversial call, a surprising upset, or an opposing player that UVA students just love to hate, these ACC games often spike a lot of conversation. This can certainly be fun to partake in, but personally, I'd much rather have a game with an easier matchup than one that's likely to be mentioned on Sportscenter the next day.

3. Ty Jerome's emergence as an offensive leader

Since it's winter break and I have more time on my hands than usual, I've been watching/streaming as many UVA basketball games as I can, and one thing I've noticed over the past couple of games especially is how much of an offensive force Ty Jerome has become this season. He seems to have the knack for always netting a 3-point shot right as the shot clock expires, and his 31-point effort against BC went a long way towards UVA's one-point victory that day. I didn't really notice Jerome's play much last season, but I'm super happy that this year he seems more confident in his shooting ability. It's paid off well for UVA in the last couple of games, and I have a feeling that he'll become increasingly important to this team as they go deeper into ACC play.

4. Their bench is just as dangerous as their starting five

One of the things I love most about watching this men's team is how each game truly seems like a team effort, in which every single guy on the court positively contributes to the outcome. DeAndre Hunter and Nigel Johnson, both typically bench players this season, have each been the high scorers in several games this season, and the team barely seems to miss a beat when one of its starting five comes out of the game for a few minutes. While it doesn't look like any bench players will really challenge for a starting spot, it is comforting to know that this year's team has significant offensive and defensive depth.

5. Kyle Guy has been their go-to Guy

Last year, though Guy shined whenever he was in the game, I felt that he was often underused on offense. This year, that certainly has not been the case, and as he's been starting every game, Guy has emerged as UVA's leading and most consistent offensive threat with an average of 15.5 points per game. Though I feel that his last couple of games were not quite up to par with what he's capable of, I love watching him make big plays on both offense and defense. If Guy is indicative of the quality of this year's team and the teams of the near future, I can't wait to watch them play for years to come.

Before coming to UVA and entering college, I was never a basketball fan. I've always thought pro basketball was tedious and not that interesting to watch. However, I've fully become a fan of college basketball over the past few years, and it's all thanks to this outstanding UVA team that consistently plays at a high, exciting, team-oriented level. I thoroughly look forward to the rest of this 2017-2018 season, with surely more offensive rebounds, blocked shots, and clutch 3-point shots to come.