Here we go with another round of power rankings after another topsy-turvy week in the always-tough MIAC:
1. UST
2. (tie) GAC & Bethel
3. SMU
4. Concordia
5. CSB
6. Augsburg
7. (tie) Hamline & St. Olaf
8. Carleton
9. St. Kate's
10. Macalester
Okay, so we all know that UST is still the leader of the pack by far but, after that, things are really beginning to get jumbled and uncertain. And, after this last week of action, I'm really being torn in different directions on which way to go with some of these teams.
Just when you THOUGHT it was safe to hop on the Gustie Express and enjoy a luxurious ride to a spot in the MIAC Championship Game - and a ticket to the Big Dance as well - this train ran into some unexpected rough track and red signals that are resulting in a very rough and uncomfortable ride (I had to use a bit of railroad analogy here as I only work for Canadian Pacific Railway :) ). The home loss at the hands of Bethel not only brought the joy ride to a crashing halt but now the Gusties find that Royals team alongside of them at the number two spot and you have to think that one of those two teams is going to push the other off the ledge. The Gusties were in the fight of their life yesterday and hung on for a thrilling OT win at St. Kate's to keep pace while Bethel dismantled St. Olaf in Northfield. Bethel has two home games coming up this next week - one with St. Kate's on Wednesday and then SMU on Saturday. GAC meanwhile must brace itself as the mighty Tommies will make the trek down U.S. Highway 169 and the Union Pacific's "Omaha Route" mainline for a Wednesday night date at Lund Center. Look, the realist inside of me (and I suppose others as well) will have to put an "L" on the Gustie ledger for this one which is why this last Wednesday night's home loss to Bethel was so costly on so many fronts. I'm not saying that they can't do it but it'll likely take a miracle of epic proportions for that to happen and even if they were to pull it off, the quirky scheduling in the MIAC this year could work against them anyway. After that, a roadie at Hamline is in the offing on Saturday. Doable - but dangerous as well.
I resisted the temptation to create a three-way logjam in my power rankings at the number two spot with SMU. They have an identical record as both GAC and Bethel have but the road ahead for the Cardinals is daunting to say the least. Without Pethke, they're still solid but just don't seem to have that explosiveness offensively that they might need in a battle with one of the other top teams. Concordia has recovered somewhat with wins at home this last week and they've got two more winnable games at home coming up this week where they'll again have to take care of business. CSB continues to limp along; benefitting from the misfortunes of those below them. Augsburg had a GOLDEN opportunity laid in front of them yesterday against SMU at home and failed to capitalize on it. That could come back to bite them.
Hamline? Hamline??!! Where art thou, Hamline??! A rough, rough week for the Pipers indeed that saw them drop a 52-49 heartbreaker to Augsburg at home on Wednesday night and then go up to Moorhead yesterday where they got dumped by the Corn in predictable fashion 72-64. Things don't get any easier either this next week as a trip down the River and the Canadian Pacific's River Sub mainline to Winona on Wednesday night and a home date with GAC on Saturday await. I'm not sure yet what to think about St. Olaf but they're still in the mix for that sixth spot and they'll have to take care of business on Wednesday night at home against Macalester and then make the run over to the other side of Northfield next Saturday to take on crosstown rival Carleton. And, what about the Knights anyway? Somehow, they still manage to stay in contention and, just like last week, I have to think that that won't last long.
Fire away with thoughts.
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