MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 1-7-18

Hard to believe that we're in the first full week of 2018 but we are and here's how my first Power Rankings of the new year look:


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


I honestly cannot remember the last time I had the Blazers (yes, the Blazers) at the top of my Power Rankings.  I'd have go back and look but am just guessing probably never.  Yet there they are sporting a sparkling 12-1 record overall and an unblemished 6-0 conference record.  I hope to catch this squad in action here sometime this month but I have to give them the top spot for now anyway simply because they have a better overall record than do either UST or GAC.  The Tommies have rolled off four straight victories since the puzzling mid-December loss at home to Luther and they should be able to take care of business without too much trouble this week as they're at Concordia on Wednesday night and home to St. Olaf next Saturday.  Meanwhile, it looks as if the Gusties have recovered enough after disappointing setbacks to both UST and UW-Whitewater back in December and they should be able to handle SMU at home in St. Peter on Wednesday night but a big one at Bethel awaits this next Saturday.  Speaking of the Royals, they've reeled off five straight wins after a disastrous December and they need that win against GAC this next Saturday badly.

Lost in the hoopla so far is Augsburg as the Auggies have rolled off four straight wins after a very disappointing home loss to Concordia back in early December.  But this next week should be a big test for Augsburg as they're at said Bethel team on Wednesday night and host CSB next Saturday.  Meanwhile an incredibly disappointing week for SMU as they lost a tough one at St. Kate's last Wednesday night before dropping a big home contest to league-leading CSB yesterday.  More feathers could fly this coming Wednesday as the Cardinals have to make the run over to St. Peter to face GAC before coming back home to face Macalester next Saturday.  Speaking of the Scots, they're on the road this week but have a great opportunity to come away with at least a split as they play at St. Olaf on Wednesday night before the trip down U.S. Highway 61 and the CP Rail River Sub mainline to Winona to face said SMU team on Saturday. 

St. Kate's has been one of the most unpredictable teams so far this season and it's not all that surprising that they wound up having to settle for a split in two home games this last week.  Just looking at their upcoming schedule this coming week (at CSB on Wednesday and at Hamline on Saturday) suggests they'll come away with another split.  I'm not ready to count out Carleton just yet and although they're still something of a work in progress, the last few outings have been something of a disappointment as of late although the latest losses have been at the hands of GAC and UST along with a loss to Elmhurst in a tournament just before the Christmas holiday.  This next week is a bit of an unusual one for the Knights as they have a tough non-conference game at UMAC opponent Bethany Lutheran on Monday night before diving right back into MIAC play with a home game against Hamline on Wednesday night before heading up U.S. Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to Moorhead to take on always-dangerous Concordia.  Naturally the Knights would love to go 3-0 this next week if possible but am guessing that Head Coach Cassie Kosiba and her staff would settle for 2-1 if they can get it. 

It's been a rough go of it so far for Concordia as the Corn have dropped their last four games including yesterday's blowout at GAC.  This week doesn't look a whole lot better either as mighty UST comes a' callin' on Wednesday night as does said Carleton team next Saturday.  Over on the north side of St. Paul, it's no surprise that the young Hamline Pipers don't have many marks in the "W" portion of their ledger but they have been playing and fighting hard as they dropped a ten-point decision to Augsburg last Wednesday night and a tough five-point loss at Macalester yesterday.  It's been an incredibly tough season so far over on the west side of Northfield as a very young St. Olaf team hasn't won a game since just after Thanksgiving when they beat Crown and things don't get any easier this coming week as Macalester comes into Skoglund Center on Wednesday and then the Oles come up to St. Paul next Saturday to face (gulp!) UST.