The Three Amigos!

As we reported earlier this week, UVa's Athletics program is in rarefied air.  Three sports teams.  Three #1 rankings.  At the same time.  I mean it's hard enough to have one program be the best in the land, but THREE?!?!  A very unusual circumstances have lead to the Men's Lacrosse, Men's Tennis, and Baseball team to ascend to the top (also its very,very early in each season).  And what better way honor these three programs than by comparing them to the 1986 classic The Three Amigos.

Men's Tennis (17-1)     Amigo most like:  Lucky Day (Steve Martin)

The Men's Tennis team is the leader of the group, the one most likely to be ranked number one.  After capturing the indoor title for the third year in a row, they have been number one the longest of the three.  And they haven't slouched off since getting to the top, winning 9 in a row, 3 over ranked teams, and only surrendering 5 points (4 to #4 Texas in an alternate scoring match).  UVa has 6 ranked singles players versus 2 to 3 ranked players for most ranked teams.  The hardest opponents left for the Hoos are Baylor (#16) and Wake Forrest (#17), both which are at home.

Men's Lacrosse (5-0)     Amigo most like:  Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase)

This was the team no one was really sure what to make of.  Either they were going to be really good or really bad.  After the first couple of games they looked good, not great.  But after the impressive 11-10 victory over Syracuse, they look like the real deal.  The Hoos took their newly minted #1 ranking into a contest with VMI today and did what number ones do:  blow a team out of the water 20-6.  Grant VMI is not that good, but shoot, neither was Mount St. Mary's and we struggled through that one.  But the real test will come this weekend with a trip to #8 Cornell in a rematch of the NCAA Semifinals from a year ago.  Let's hope they aren't like Dusty, hiding out at El Guapo's party, before finally blowing his cover.

Baseball (9-2)     Amigo most like:  Ned Nederlander

This is the most unlikely number one team. . .at least this early into the year, but ultimately belongs at the top.  The #2 preseason ranking was a mild shocker, but this team had a lot to live up too, coming off their first College World Series appearance.  But with LSU slipping up home against New Mexico and UVa taking the series against East Carolina in the opening weekend moved Virginia into the #1 slot.  What was even more amazing is that after another loss this past weekend to Wright State, ends up 3-1 and keeping the top ranking over some good undefeated teams.  Why?  Two reasons.  First, when their offensive is on, it really clicks.  They are averaging just less than 10 runs a game (108 runs in 11 games).  Secondly, their starting rotation is one of the best in the country.  Hultzen has been pitching amazing, and Winiarski has been good as the Sunday starter.  But they will have two tough tests this week as they travel to William & Mary Wednesday, who just came off a road victory over #12 UNC (also Lambeth Field will be at the game providing live updates), and the matchup of the year so far in college baseball at #3 FSU.

Good luck to all these teams this weekend.  Hopefully, we will earn a plethora of wins.

Jeffe...what is a 'plethora'?