MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 1-13-19

I'm feeling infinitely better after my Los Angeles Rams dispatched Dallas last night in the NFC Divisional Playoffs last night and with that worry out of my head for the time being, let's take a look at my latest power ranking for MIAC Women's Hoops after this last week of action.


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


I had some really, really tough decisions to make this time around based on the latest results.  I don't doubt that there'll be some squawking from some (and I can't help that) but I'm simply going by what I see in trends and the latest results.  First off, there's no doubt at the top spot with UST having a seeming choke-hold on the rest of the conference by virtue of the way they shut down Augsburg yesterday over at Si Melby Hall by taking the Auggies completely out of their up-tempo game.  But the Tommies have little time to celebrate their latest conquest as they have a very tough Bethel team coming into Schoenecker Arena on Wednesday night before SMU makes the jaunt up the River and the CP Rail River Sub to take on the Tommies next Saturday afternoon.  Augsburg meanwhile had better recover fast from this latest setback as they have a very tricky and equally athletic Hamline team coming into Si Melby Hall on Wednesday night before they travel down to Northfield to take on St. Olaf next Saturday.  For Bethel meanwhile, this could be the toughest week for them of all this season and this may be where they have to make their last stand and come through wrt their MIAC title/NCAA Tournament hopes.  A visit to UST on Wednesday night before Hamline comes to Robertson Center on Saturday.  I just think the Royals have to come away with a sweep this week to salvage their sagging hopes after last Wednesday night's loss at home to Augsburg. 

Below these three teams, it's a complete mess and, as I said, I had to make some very difficult decisions in attempting to shake this out.  I shoved SMU up to the fourth spot after they took care of cellar-dwellers Carleton and Macalester at home but now comes the rough part - a looonnnggg roadie up to the Fargo-Moorhead area on Wednesday night to take on an improving Concorida team and then a visit to  Schoenecker Arena on Saturday to take on said UST.  The Cardinals had better hope for a split to avoid complete disaster.  Hamline meanwhile dropped a close one to said Cobber team up in Moorhead Wednesday night but got the job done yesterday at home against Carleton.  This next week though is daunting:  At Augsburg on Wednesday night and then at Bethel next Saturday and this young team will definitely have its mettle tested.  CSB had a solid week this last week; getting a big road win at GAC on Wednesday night and then getting a nice home victory yesterday against St. Olaf with members of the 1998-99 Final Four team in attendance.  And the opportunity is there this week for the Blazers to consolidate on these latest gains as they host St. Kate's on Wednesday night before a roadie down to Northfield Saturday to face Carleton.

For the time being, I have St. Kate's on the outside looking in despite yesterday's big home win over a slumping GAC team.  Nobody expected the 'Cats to beat UST this last Wednesday night anyway so coming away with a split wasn't a terrible proposition.  But now Don Mulhern's squad has a big chance this next week to make a significant move as they go up to CSB on Wednesday night before going over to Macalester next Saturday.  Tricky, but not out of the question.......Despite taking it on the chin yesterday to Bethel, you have to admire how the Cobbers were riding a nice little four-game win streak going into that game and although I think realistically that Concordia's likely still a year away from being able to make a significant move upward again, you still have to give Head Coach Jessica Rahman and her staff a lot of credit for bringing this young team along and they'll always play with grit - a Concordia trademark and they'll have a chance to make a statement this week with SMU coming to town on Wednesday night before a trip down to GAC next Saturday.....Speaking of the Gusties, my goodness.  Is there possibly a more disappointing team in the conference, maybe the entire upper Midwest, than this group right now?  A bad, bad home loss to CSB this last Wednesday night before yesterday's not-so-shocking loss at St. Kate's.  For a program that has always made the MIAC Playoffs since its inception back in 2001; for a program that made the fabulous run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament last season, it's a shocking come-back-to-earth splash of cold water in the face to say the least.  I can't bring myself to say that it's completely over for GAC at this point.  There's still a LOT of young talent on this team (key word here is YOUNG) but if they're going to keep this streak of MIAC Playoff appearances alive, then this week is where they absolutely MUST make their last stand and reverse this tailspin.  And it won't be easy either.  A roadie up to Macalester on Wednesday night where the Scots are always tough at Leonard Center before Concordia comes to town next Saturday. 

Fire away with thoughts....