Now that the dust has finally settled on the MIAC Playoffs that saw UST operate from the #3 spot to claim yet another MIAC title and secure the MIAC's automatic berth for the NCAA Tournament, it's time to look ahead and see what this means for the two other MIAC hopefuls.
But first, I want to send a shout out to Head Coach Aaron Kahl and his Northwestern Eagles team as they too, operated from the #3 spot in the UMAC Playoffs to knock off St. Scholastica up in Duluth on Thursday night and then go out to Morris yesterday to shock #1 seed UM-Morris to win the UMAC Championship Game and claim the UMAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. I've been lucky enough to catch this team in action on several occasions this season and I think it's awesome this group will get a chance to strut their stuff in the NCAA Tournament. This is a team you won't want to take lightly as they have the ability to shoot the lights out from behind the arc when they're hot and they have a solid post player in senior Jessica Fife who has battled hard in the paint all year long. They are a fun team to watch to be sure and best of luck to them!
So we know that UST has the MIAC's automatic bid. Now the big question arises: Do they get to host a sub-regional pod? With a 24-4 overall record and being solidly in the Regional rankings, I'd certainly say they've got a shot at it. They've got the ideal facility for it and, more importantly, they're centrally located which almost makes it a no-brainer. I certainly hope they'll get that chance and, if they, do, they'll undoubtedly be tough to beat on their own floor no matter who else is there.
SMU, with a sparkling 24-3 record is a lock to get into the Dance as well despite the loss yesterday to UST in the MIAC Championship Game. The big question for them now becomes where will they go? Assuming UST gets to host a sub-regional pod, the NCAA could play cheap and simply shove the Cardinals up the River and the CP Rail River Sub mainline to St. Paul to be a part of it. I personally don't know if that's the right move or not for the NCAA to make. I'm guessing that, from an SMU perspective, it's likely not a desirable option. I know how the NCAA likes to keep travel expenses in line as much as possible. UW-Whitewater is a lock for the Dance and UW-Oshkosh has the WIAC's automatic berth. Does SMU get sent over to Wisconsin instead? Certainly a possibility anyway. It's tough for me to envision a scenario where they get sent out to either Whitworth or Whitman of the NWC which simply wouldn't be right.
Now, we have to talk about Concordia and, this is where it gets tricky. The Cobbers, sporting a solid 21-5 record, certainly have the goods to get into the Dance despite the MIAC Playoff semifinal loss at home on Thursday night to UST. But some very unpredictable things happened out west yesterday and last night that now have the Cobbers sitting on pins and needles once again to see if they're going to get an invite come Monday. First, Whitworth shocked #1-ranked Whitman in the NWC Championship Game 68-65 that gives Whitworth the automatic berth and has Whitman as a lock for an at-large berth. Perennial NWC power George Fox looks to be a sure thing as well. The other monkey-wrench thrown at Concordia was that Claremont-Mudd-Scripps upset #1 seed Chapman in the SCIAC Championship Game that now has Chapman on that proverbial "bubble" as well. It's a tough call here.....I'm hoping and praying that somehow, the powers that be at the NCAA will do the right thing and put the Cobbers in. I think that, when you look at how incredibly tough the MIAC is plus the fact that Concordia swept UST during the regular season plus their 21-5 record, they've got a pretty strong argument here. The downside, of course, is that IF they do get in, they're most likely going to be shipped out west to Washington state to (most likely) Whitman; especially if the NCAA decides to shove SMU up to UST's place if the Tommies get to host. At this juncture anyway, I think that's Concordia's best hope even though you and I know that the Cobbers deserve better. For the moment anyway, you can bet that there's going to be a lot of pacing back and forth up in the Fargo-Moorhead area between now and Monday afternoon.
Loras disposed of Coe in the IIAC Championship Game yesterday in Dubuque and they would seem to be an ideal candidate to put in a sub-regional pod at UST. I could easily envision a UST-hosted pod that featured host UST, Northwestern from the UMAC, Loras from the IIAC, and either SMU or UW-Whitewater. St. Norbert is also a possibility as they won the Midwest Conference Championship Game and they could figure into the picture as well. Needless to say, everybody (including yours truly) will be waiting in anticipation for Monday afternoon to arrive when the NCAA Tournament pairings are announced. I'll have my thoughts on all of it as well.
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