Here's the latest round of power rankings for this Valentines and President's Day weekend (where I get tomorrow off from work!) as we edge closer to the end of the regular season.
1. UST
2. Bethel
3. GAC
4. Concordia
5. SMU
6. Augsburg
7. CSB
8. St. Olaf
9. Hamline
10. Carleton
11. St. Kate's
12. Macalester
You can't blame me for wondering yesterday if UST might have been on upset alert after the long arduous ride up U.S. Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to Moorhead to take on the Cobbers. But the Tommies gutted out a tough 62-50 win to move to 23-0 on the season and that lofty number two national ranking still intact - and deservedly so. But now comes perhaps an even bigger test for Ruth Sinn's squad - the upcoming tilt with Bethel this Wednesday night over at Robertson Center. The Royals; enjoying a ten-game win streak moved to 19-4 on the year after yesterday's home win against Augsburg. You have to figure that this game will likely be a preview of things to come in the MIAC Playoffs as the Royals are now locked-in on the second seed.
GAC gets the nod at the number three position on my rankings and the Gusties appear to be a lock for the number three seed as well for the upcoming MIAC Playoffs - as long as they take care of business this next week against both Macalester and CSB which I anticipate that they will. It's not a bad spot to be in either and, considering that GAC has had to settle for the sixth spot the last couple of years, this is definitely a huge step forward. Unfortunately for the Gusties, they will have to set the world on fire in order to garner an invite to the Big Dance this time around and they're arguably a year away from contending for the title. I give the edge to Concordia for the fourth spot in my rankings today - and also for that fourth spot in the MIAC Playoffs as well. They got a split this last week which, with UST coming into town yesterday, isn't a terrible proposition. The Cobbers hit the road on Wednesday night going to St. Olaf before closing out the regular season at home against a dangerous Augsburg team. Doable, but possibly taxing as well. SMU, however, has taken it on the chin lately and those lopsided losses this last week have had to make for some long, dark, depressing rides on U.S. Highway 61 and the Canadian Pacific's River Sub mainline back to Winona. The Cardinals do have a shot at redemption - and that fourth spot in the MIAC Playoffs as well - with home dates against Carleton and Macalester this week. But they have to show me something in these last two regular season games.
Meanwhile, is there a more confounding team in this conference than CSB? You had to think that this last Wednesday night's big home win over SMU would have been the springboard to snaring that sixth spot. But yesterday's 56-55 loss at Carleton yesterday sent the Blazers right back to the brink. So it looks like it is all on the line for both CSB and visting Augsburg this coming Wednesday night up at Claire Lynch. Despite the loss to Bethel yesterday, I like how the Auggies are playing right now and CSB is going to have their hands full down low trying to contain both Bridget Bednar and Jessica Lillquist. And I can see Abbey Luger trying her best to wreak havoc on the Blazers. No doubt that CSB will need a huge game from Mattie Lueck in this one - and she has the ability to deliver as well. Should be a great one - and a great week to wrap up the MIAC regular season!
Fire away with thoughts.
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