MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 2-17-19

I know it's Sunday night but wasn't going to get comfortable on my couch until I put out my last power rankings of this regular season.


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


Again, no argument at all on the top three spots as all three teams closed out the regular season on a relatively strong note.  The Tommies absolutely destroyed CSB on Wednesday night and then went down U.S. Highway 61 and the Canadian Pacific Railway River Sub mainline to Winona where they unceremoniously dumped SMU yesterday.  Augsburg had a bit more of a difficult time at home with pesky opponents Macalester and St. Olaf but still got the job done while Bethel took both GAC (at home) and Hamline (up the road on Snelling Avenue yesterday) to the woodshed.  While the Tommies will undoubtedly be the favorite to repeat again as champs in the upcoming MIAC Playoffs next week, you can also make arguments for both Augsburg and Bethel as well and this next week will be fun for sure (more on that tomorrow).

Where I'm sure there WILL be some arguments and fussing (and perhaps rightfully so) is how I've got the middle part arranged.  I put the Gusties in the fourth spot because, even though they got popped (as expected) on Wednesday night at Bethel, they came back strong yesterday and applied the same type of treatment to Concordia up in Moorhead that is normally an incredibly tough venue for GAC (or any other team for that matter) to win.  To me anyway, I can forgive what happened to them at Bethel but I CANNOT forgive CSB for getting utterly undressed and humiliated in every way, shape and form this last Wednesday night at Schoenecker Arena in the form of a 90-31 beatdown.  C'mon Blazers.....You've GOT to at least show up.  To their credit, they did beat Carleton yesterday but, then again, everyone has beaten Carleton this year.  And I put St. Kate's in my sixth spot ahead of SMU even though it was the Cardinals who wound up snaring that sixth playoff spot by virtue of their win over the Wildcats in Winona on Wednesday night.  Just from what I saw of the Wildcats yesterday in their win over Macalester, they LOOKED to me like a real playoff team.  Everything was clicking for them on both ends of the floor and this team will only be better next season.  I look at SMU and how they managed to go on yet another tailspin down the home stretch of the season; dropping five of their last six games and this simply does not bode well for a team going into the MIAC Playoffs next week.

It was a roller coaster of a season in more ways than one for Hamline as they fell short of trying to get that sixth spot.  They have made improvements, however, and I expect this squad to be just as dangerous next year.  The continuing nagging question for the Pipers:  Can they EVER find some consistency along the way?  Both Concordia and St. Olaf took strides forward this season and although the Cobbers faltered down the stretch, it may only be a matter of time when they're again in the mix in the MIAC Playoff picture.  The Oles faltered in their last four games but we'll just have to keep our eyes open to see what Head Coach Dave Stromme is bringing into the picture for next year.  Macalester is definitely better than what their 6-19 overall record suggests and they should have everybody back for next year.  Meanwhile, it was a dismal season over on the east side of Northfield as Carleton finished 3-22 on the year and 0-18 on the conference.  I have no idea what lies ahead for this program but the glory days the Knights enjoyed between 2001-08 sure seem like a long time ago.

Tomorrow, I'll handicap the MIAC Playoff picture to get everyone prepared on what should be an incredibly fun week.