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2014 Is The Year Of The Cavalier

Everyone needs to just do the right thing and get behind the University of Virginia Cavaliers.

Maybe you were too busy following the ACC's so-called elite teams, like Duke, UNC, or Syracuse, so here's some news...

AP Photo/Gerry Broome
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
AP Photo/Gerry Broome

The best team in the ACC is the Virginia Cavaliers. They won the ACC regular season title outright.

Rich Barnes / Getty Images

Sure, it's easy to dismiss Virginia as a top basketball program.

It's sad, but true.

Most people tend to associate UVA with other sports...

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...Not to mention Virginia's often-preppy student section.

Via facebook.com

On the other hand, those students are probably smarter than you, better looking than you, and they party harder than you.

But don't rule the Cavs out so quickly.

Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer / MCT

Or London Perrantes may just drop a three on you.

Do you know how many teams in ACC history have won 16 conference games?

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Just two. And one of them is the 2014 Virginia Cavaliers.

They're steady on offense.

Geoff Burke/Usa Today Sports
Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT

Malcolm Brogdon, Akil Mitchell, and Joe Harris lead the Hoos in points per game, rebounds per game, and 3-point field goal percentage, respectively.

And this team's defense is incredible.

Rich Barnes / Getty Images

Virginia's allowed 54.8 points per game is TOPS IN THE NATION.

This year's been quite the ride, but there are some Cavs fans that aren't exactly on board with rejoicing just yet. Maybe they've gotten used to disappointment.

The daggers have been oh-so-painful.

Consider this: UVA's last NCAA tournament win was in March 2007 over Albany.

Travis Lindquist / Getty Images

Remember Jason Cain? He was a key player on that team. JASON FREAKING CAIN.

To put those seven years in perspective: Norfolk State, Richmond, and George Mason have all won a game in the tourney since then.

Eric Francis / Getty Images
Justin Edmonds / Getty Images North America
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images North America

Oh yeah, can't forget ODU and of course VCU. THESE are the teams representing the great Commonwealth?!

In UVA's most recent tournament appearance, back in 2012, the 10-seed Cavaliers lost by a sad, SAD 26 to the 7-seed, Florida.

AP Photo/Orlin Wagner

ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME.

So sure, there were some tough seasons in the past, but the previous heartbreaks are making the 2014 season that much sweeter.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

And sweet it is!

It's also why you need to majorly respect the resilience of this team, feel for what their loyal fans have gone through, and GET ON THE UVA BANDWAGON.

Thus, even if you are a die-hard Hokie...

Geoff Burke / Getty Images

Even if you hate Thomas Jefferson...

Or even if you're a high school senior from Fairfax with a 2360 SAT score and a sparkly fresh rejection letter from UVA admissions...

Via thoughtpursuits.com

Yikes.

Put all of that nonsense aside.

The time for UVA has come.

Virginia fans, ACC fans, and overall college basketball fans, remember this: YOU CAN'T HELP BUT CHEER FOR UVA.

Because 2014 is the year of the Virginia Cavalier.

Rich Barnes / Getty Images

Get it, Cavs! GO HOOS GO!