Well, here we go with my bold predictions for this
upcoming season in the MIAC womens hoops world.
I apologize for the delay in getting this out but have been sidetracked
with tennis and trying to root my UCLA Bruins on to another Pac 12 South
Division title. A busy time of the year
for sure!
Anyway, brace yourself because another season gets fully
underway this weekend.
TITLE CONTENDERS
1.
UST
Yeah, like, who else did you expect here? It’s quite conceivable that this year’s
Tommie squad could run roughshod through conference opponents again just like
they did two years ago going unblemished.
I’m not saying they will for sure but when you look at the roster of
this team with both Maggie Weiers AND Taylor Young both back and both
presumably healthy now plus a boatload of complimentary talent in players such
as Kelly Brandenburg, Jen Dockter, et al it’s difficult to envision some other
team in this conference getting in their way in their quest for yet another
MIAC title. The big question here is how
well the Tommies handle having that proverbial target on their back night in
and night out. I think the fact that this
group has already made deep runs in the last two NCAA Tournaments says a
lot. And, make no mistake about it. This team is capable of not only making
another deep run in the Dance but also of winning the whole ball of wax. In fact, they’d better.
SOLID MIAC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
2.
CSB
3.
Concordia
4.
SMU
5.
Bethel
If there’s one team that has a chance at actually
challenging UST in any form or fashion for title I would have to say that it’s
the Blazers. True, they lost Whitney
Canton to graduation but Head Coach Mike Durbin has a bevy of talent at his
disposal; highlighted by seniors Tish Alexander, Brianna Barrett and Morgan
Dale. I think last year was something of
a learning experience for the younger members but presumably they should be ready
to help the Blazers in their return to prominence. IMHO, they likely don’t have enough to ram
the Tommie ship but they may very well have more than enough to get an invite
to the Dance. Concordia, always solid,
always consistent, always tough, has to deal with losing both Trisha Sorensen
and MIAC POY Emily Thesing but a solid recruiting class by Head Coach Jessica
Rahman will ensure that the Cobbers will remain in the mix for the
long-haul. SMU had a fabulous year last
season going 22-5 but losing two great players in Jessica Thone and Jamie
Stefely to graduation will be tough. The
big question in my mind is who inherits that coveted PG spot for the Cardinals? Again, I would have to think that, barring a
rash of injuries, this team should be right in the thick of things but
replicating last year’s W-L record is likely a bridge too far. I think that Bethel makes a jump from last
year into that fifth spot. Last year’s
team was incredibly young and it took a while for all the moving parts to “work”
the way they were supposed to. This
year, though, they don’t have that luxury of having time to improve. They’ve got to find a way to be consistent
from beginning to end. They have one of
the best post players in the conference in preseason All-American Rachel
Parupsky and that should bode well for the Royals.
FIGHTING FOR THAT 6TH SPOT
6.
St. Olaf
7.
GAC
8.
Hamline
I should be cutting the Oles a bit of a break here with
all the talent Head Coach Dave Stromme has assembled on the west side of
Northfield but after last year’s disappointing finish I’m really cautious on
this group. I realize all the injuries
and all the other off-court issues played a factor but last year was a huge
disappointment no matter how you slice it, dice it or cut it and the Oles have
to show me that last year was a fluke.
GAC lost a tremendous group of players to graduation and an even bigger
concern to me is who inherits that PG spot in St. Peter. The guess here is senior Shelly Blaschko will
get the nod. They also have a very good
post player in sophomore Karina Schroeder who had a solid first year. And let’s not forget do-it-all senior Julia
Dysthe either. But if the Gusties margin
for error was small last year, it will be even smaller this season and they can
ill-afford another January swoon like they had this last season. Hamline lost a great triumvirate of seniors
in Kara Poirer, Steph Pilgrim and Cassidy Vogt but Head Coach Kerri Stockwell
has a very athletic squad including junior Jordan Sammons; perhaps the best
athlete in the conference. They’re not loaded
with experience but they have enough speed and skill to give teams fits. Finding some semblance of consistency will be
their biggest issue.
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
9.
Augsburg
10.
Carleton
Augsburg continues to confound me with how they continually
flirt with making that big jump only to fall flat on their face at the most
crucial times. The Auggies have a group
of seniors that will hopefully allow them to challenge once again in Jill
Tichy, Jolene Blood and Carly Wolf. But
again, with the Auggies, it’s about finishing and that’s something that they
haven’t been able to do so far. Carleton
continues to be the great unknown in my mind and it’s difficult to predict exactly
how they’ll fare this season although they seem to be taking incremental steps
in the right direction. One player for
the Knights to keep your eye on is junior guard Skylar Tsutsui.
THE CELLAR DWELLERS
11.
St. Kate’s
12.
Macalester
The Wildcats endured a rough, rough year last year but Head
Coach Sean Pinkerton has been patient and, along with former St. Kate’s Head
Coach Tim Kjar as his assistant, they’ve reeled in some exciting new young
talent in the first steps of taking this program to new heights. It won’t happen overnight but this will be an
exciting group to watch with sophomore Gabby Zehrer and freshman Abby Torgerson
among the newcomers. It seems hard to
believe that it was four years ago that Macalester was taking the MIAC by storm
as they were challenging mightily for the conference crown. While the Scots may not be loaded with talent
or size, don’t let their slide fool you.
This is a tough, extremely well-coached team that always plays hard and
will not beat itself. They have a solid
group of players led by senior Veronika Jakubovie at the post and senior guard
Emma Leyden and up-and-coming sophomore point guard Erin Murray.
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