MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 1-6-19

Well, it's the first Sunday in January so you know what that means.  It's time to reveal my first power rankings in the MIAC for this 2018-19 season and there's some interesting developments thus far along with some things that still need to shake out a bit.

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


While I don't think there's too much debate about who should be at the top spot as the Tommies handily took care of both GAC and Hamline this last week, there's still probably some concern that lingers after the twenty-point loss they absorbed down in Waverly, IA just before the first of the year at the hands of Wartburg.  So while UST has the top spot - for now anyway - it's not necessarily a sure thing that they'll be able to keep it.  And one team that would certainly like to take it away from them is Augsburg and the Auggies got two big road wins this last week - at CSB on Wednesday night and then at SMU yesterday.  Now comes the big test for Ted Riverso's squad - at Bethel this Wednesday night and then at said UST next Saturday.  We should know a lot more about the Auggies and their chances a week from now.  I toyed with the idea of putting Bethel alongside Augsburg in that second spot - I think they're certainly deserving anyway.  Consider:  The Royals have now won six in a row - including a huge win on the road just before the first of the year to ninth-ranked George Fox.  Certainly a win such as that can pay big dividends down the road if Bethel manages to keep this up.  As I said, this match-up Wednesday night at Robertson Center between the Royals and said Augsburg team is going to be huge for both. 

You get beyond the first three teams and then it becomes a real crapshoot.  I had to look at each team, draw sticks and play rock, paper and scissors in trying to sort this mess out and I'm still not 100% sure if I like what I came up with but I put the Pipers in the fourth spot (my God, have I EVER had Hamline THAT high before?).  I can forgive the loss yesterday at UST; I don't think anyone realistically had the Pipers winning that one but this is a team that has won four out of its five last games including that heart-stopping win this last Wednesday night over SMU when junior Kaeli Stayer drained a "3" at the buzzer (damn, I STILL kick myself for not going over there that night :p).  Head Coach Alex Focke just has this young team playing better and while I don't know if they can keep this up, if they can show some consistency they're definitely going to be the most-feared team in the league.  GAC recovered from their annual pounding at the hands of UST as they did similar to Carleton down in Northfield yesterday but it's becoming clearer and clearer that this Gustie team has simply lost too many pieces from last year's squad that made the amazing run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament and though they're not necessarily in a bad spot right now, there's no guarantee that they'll be able to hold their positioning.  Meanwhile, down the River and the CP Rail River Sub in Winona, it was an absolute disaster of a week for SMU and new Head Coach David Foley as they suffered that buzzer-beating loss at Hamline on Wednesday night and then got popped at home by Augsburg yesterday.  Fortunately for the Cardinals, this next week looks much more manageable as both cellar-dwellers Carleton and Macalester come to town on Wednesday night and Saturday, respectively.  But then again, we all know how incredibly dangerous it is to count wins on paper.

St. Kate's came away with a split this last week; winning down at Carleton this last week before losing a tough one at Bethel yesterday.  The thing of it is, the 'Cats can likely best hope for a split this next week as mighty UST pays a visit to Butler Center on Wednesday night to renew the friendly Neighborhood Rivalry and then the Wildcats host GAC this next Saturday.  I view this next Saturday's game with GAC as critical for both teams but especially for St. Kate's.  Meanwhile, you have to admire the progress this young Concordia team is making as they've won three straight including a big road win at St. Olaf yesterday.  This week could be a rather bumpy ride for the Cobbers, however, as they have a huge home game with Hamline on Wednesday night before Bethel makes the journey on U.S. Highway 10 and the BNSF Staples Sub mainline to pay a call on Saturday.  For a team that made the NCAA Tournament last year, this year has been nothing short of utter disappointment for CSB thus far and they had to hold on for dear life at Macalester yesterday to at least come away with a split this last week.  And things aren't going to be easy for the Blazers this next week as they visit GAC on Wednesday night and then host St. Olaf next Saturday.