Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams

Sunday, January 8, 2017

MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 1-8-17


Well, here we go with my first MIAC power rankings for the 2016-17 season and while some things were kind of predicatable, there are also a few surprises as well.


1.  (tie) UST & GAC
2.  Bethel
3.  SMU
4.  St. Kate's
5.  CSB
6.  Concordia
7.  (tie) Hamline & Macalester
8.  Augsburg
9.  St. Olaf
10.  Carleton


Some over on Summit Avenue in St. Paul may feel offended that they have to share the top spot with GAC; especially in light of the fact that the Tommies last lost to the Gusties seven years ago.  But I think you have to give a lot of props to GAC for the way they've bulldozed opponents into submission so far to garner an unblemished 13-0 record and 6-0 in the MIAC as the Tommies.  While UST appears to have two relatively easy games on paper this coming week, the Gusties do have one big challenge this coming Wednesday when they make the trip over to Robertson Center to play Bethel.  I think GAC is more than deserving of sharing the top spot with the Tommies and this may be the best Gustie squad since that '02-'03 team that wound up in a three-way tie with both Carleton and CSB for first place and should have made a big run in the Dance.  Moreover, how the Gusties have not yet cracked the D3 Hoops Top 25 is an absolute travesty and I'm sure that only adds fuel to their fire.

Bethel remain firmly entrenched at the number two spot after predictably coming away with a split this last week.  The Royals are still in fine shape at 10-3 overall and 5-1 in MIAC play but, at some point, they have to find a way to get that one big signature win and, since they've already dropped their one meeting with UST, this coming Wednesday night's game against GAC is as close to a "must win" for them as there can be.  SMU recorded two big home wins this last week to stay in the conversation for the time being and this next week appears doable even with roadies at both Augsburg and CSB.

And some may have a problem with me having St. Kate's in the fourth spot as opposed to CSB despite the fact that the Blazers have a better record in MIAC play.  I'm willing to cut the 'Cats a break here despite their loss on the road to SMU yesterday.  I just think what St. Kate's has done up to this point is far more impressive than what CSB has done.  And maybe it's because I still have that UST debacle fresh on my mind as well where the Blazers just got torn to shreds and lost by 40+ that arguably could have been a hell of a lot worse had not UST Head Coach Ruth Sinn called off the dogs when she did.  They did clobber Concordia in Claire Lynch on Wednesday night but were predictably on the wrong end of a 71-50 beatdown at the hands of GAC in St. Peter so until I see CSB do something incredibly special, they're lucky to be where they're at.  Meanwhile, tough times abound up in Moorhead where the Corn is limping along with a 2-4 record in MIAC play and only 5-8 overall.  Let's just be honest here:  The Cobbers were incredibly fortunate to escape Hutton Arena yesterday with a 73-65 win where Hamline almost erased a 16-point deficit down the home stretch and, considering that they've only been able to post back-to-back victories once this season (and that was back in November), the outlook is still murky at best and the fact that they have to make another trip down U.S. Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to the Twin Cities this next Saturday for a date at - GULP - UST, does not bode well for them.

Hamline and Macalester are in the seventh spot in my power rankings for the time being and you have to give the Pipers a lot of credit for hanging in there and battling despite a plethora of injuries and other maladies that have struck them.  Ditto for Macalester which has steadily improved in Kelly Roysland's third year at the helm and they stole a big one on the road at St. Olaf yesterday.  Augsburg, which looked to be the story of the MIAC with its own version (almost anyway) of the celebrated "Fab Five" has suddenly fallen off the map with five losses in their last seven games.  They do have a chance to right the ship, however, with home games this coming Wednesday night against SMU and St. Olaf.  Down in Northfield, crosstown rivals St. Olaf and Carleton have fallen on hard times and this Wednesday looks to be brutal as the Oles host UST and the Knights make that dreaded trip up to Moorhead to take on Concordia.  The Oles are a youthful bunch with only one senior (Betsey Daly) while the Knights have to feel encouraged by finally getting junior Anne Hamilton back in action after being out with an injury.

No comments:

Post a Comment