MIAC Predictions For the 2019-20 Season

Again, a little bit late in getting this out but thought now was as good as time as any to break out the crystal ball and try and make some fearless predictions for this upcoming season of MIAC Women's Basketball.


The Title Contenders:

1.  Augsburg
2.  UST
3.  Bethel

Yep, you're seeing this correctly.  For the first time in a LONG, long time, I'm picking someone other than UST to win both the regular season and MIAC Playoffs this year.  And my pick is Augsburg primarily because (1) they have all the important parts back from last year and (2) I think they're much more hungry this time around considering how they were unfairly snubbed from the NCAA Tournament last season after going 22-5 and making it to the MIAC Championship Game.  When you look at the Fab 5 group that are now seniors - Tamira McLemore, Ari Jones, K'aezha Wubben, Camryn Speese and Aiza Wilson and the experience they have, it's not a bad choice to go with this group.  Plus you have fellow senior Abby Jordan along with junior sharpshooter Nicole Zielsdorf to add depth to a solid backcourt and junior forward Jazmyn Solseth who can muscle down low with the best of them.  I just like rolling the dice with this group more than anyone else right now.  I think the only thing that changes for Augsburg this time around is that they'll be wearing a bigger target on their back than they did before.

It's definitely changing times at UST for a variety of reasons.  First, when you lose a great group in Hannah Spaulding, Lucia Renikoff and Kaylie Brazil to graduation, that's tough enough as it is.  But, things were made much more complicated for the Tommies when expected returners Madi Radtke, Sarah Krynski and a few others left the team before the season started.  I won't get into speculating as to what may or may not have happened but the bottom line here is that I just don't think this will be the same kind of team that dominated night in and night out like UST has over the last few years.  They'll still be good, mind you and they should certainly be in the mix but I think the reality is that they'll be much more vulnerable than they have in years past; particularly when you consider that the roster is predominantly made up of freshmen and sophomores.  Two juniors that are back though will have a huge role in UST's success this season - forward Kaia Porter and Macy Hatlestad.  Sophomore Brynne Rolland got some valuable experience last year as a back-up in the post spot and she'll also be heavily relied upon this year as well.  Lastly, should we expect this to be UST's MIAC swan song?  Your guess is as good as mine.

We shouldn't forget about Bethel either in this discussion.  Although there's a big hole to fill in the post spot vacated by the graduated Hannah Johnson, the Royals are still loaded and will almost certainly have something to say about who wins the conference this time around.  IMHO, the Royals have the best on-ball defender in senior guard Haylee Barker and when this team turns up the heat on defense, it can be curtains for opponents.  Another big part of this team is fellow senior forward Taite Anderson who can dominate on the glass and get those tough points down low.  There's a lot of other moving parts on this team that got valuable minutes last year and this Bethel team will almost certainly be in the title chase. 


Sure Bets For MIAC Playoffs:

4.  GAC
5.  CSB

Of all the areas that seem relatively certain in making MIAC picks for this season, this is one seems like almost a lock when it comes to these two teams.  In GAC's case, one could make an argument that perhaps the Gusties should be picked higher than this.  Certainly with all the returners they have coming back and with the experience they gained last season, it's reasonable to think that the Gusties could possibly find a way to break back into that upper echelon where they were back in 2017 and 2018.  At the same time, there's enough questions about this squad that could make the casual observer diss this Gustie squad.  But I personally think this team has a very good chance of exceeding expectations - if things go right for them.  Junior point guard Gabby Bowlin is slowly but surely coming into her own and there's a pretty decent supporting cast to go along with that.  The Wagner Twins - juniors Maddie and Marnie - will certainly provide contributions and I saw a lot of good things from junior forward Hailey Sorenson this last summer.  Junior forward Paige Richert made good strides this last season and I expect that she'll be even better and now GAC has a "big" down low in 6'5" sophomore post Betsy Schoenrock.  Newcomer freshman guard Maddy Rice is an exciting player as well so the Gusties certainly have weapons.  The big question is - how long will it take for all these elements to come together cohesively that could propel GAC into being a factor for the MIAC title?  That's why I'm taking the safe course here and putting them at the number four spot.

There's even more question marks swirling around St. Joe these days when it comes to this year's CSB team.  You do have some very solid returnees in senior guard Sidney Schiffler, junior point guard Megan Thompson, fellow junior guard Haylee Fingalsen and junior forward Maddie Schmitz.  Senior post Alex Johnson will anchor the post spot down low.  Beyond that, there's just so many new faces that I just don't either know or can get a feel for that would allow me to consider the Blazers (I can't bring myself to call them the Bennies) any higher than the fifth spot.  Last season ended on something of a sour note when GAC came to town and ran CSB off their home floor in the MIAC Playoff Quarterfinals so there's likely an added incentive there for CSB to make amends for that.


Fighting For that 6th Playoff Spot:

6.  SMU
7.  St. Kate's

IMHO, this is where it gets really, REALLY tricky.  I could probably down a few beers, play rock/paper/scissors or scream myself hoarse watching my LA Rams and UCLA Bruins like I've been doing this fall and I still probably couldn't come to a certain pick.  I just basically listed them 6th and 7th for how they finished this last season.  First off, when you look at SMU, they lost the big driving force of their modus operandi in Brandi Blattner to graduation and there's just no way she can be completely replaced.  However, there are some solid starters returning for the Cardinals that will at least keep them in the hunt for the playoffs this year.  Sophomore guard Shayley Vesel may very have likely been the best kept secret in the MIAC last year and she'll only be better this season.  Junior guard Claire Patterson is perhaps the most underrated and unappreciated player in the MIAC and she has the capability to make plays on both ends of the floor.  Fellow junior guard Isabel Bettag showed me some things this last season during their MIAC Playoff game vs Bethel to make me think that she can be a force as well.  Not knowing a lot about this squad, I probably need to see more of them to form a better opinion but they may very well have the capability to win some games that they maybe shouldn't win - at least on paper anyway.

Perhaps the most intriguing team in the MIAC is the St. Kate's Wildcats.  Head Coach Don Mulhern; in his third season at the helm of the Wildcat program, is bringing in some very good players that will help Mulhern and his staff take the 'Cats to the next level.  Now, just how soon that happens is anyone's guess but I would expect that this squad will at least be in the playoff mix.  It'll be a little different in the backcourt without the other half of the Clark twin sister duo, Audra, now graduated.  Still, there's a lot of talent back and leading this group will be senior guards Danica Cambrice and Jackie Radford with fellow senior Emma Nelson providing her experience and leadership.  Sophomore forward Sam Orth is a tremendous presence down low for St. Kate's.  There's a nice mix of freshman and sophomores ready to contribute as well including Mary-Claire Francois out of DeLaSalle.  Keep your eye on this group.  Mulhern knows how to coach the living daylights out of you and this group could easily pull off some big surprises this season. 


The Not Quite Ready For Primetime Group:

8.  Hamline
9.  St. Olaf

Like Mulhern, Head Coach Alex Focke is in his third season leading the Piper program and is hoping to build on Hamline's 14-12 record from last season.  Leading the way for the Pipers this season will be versatile senior forward Reilly Geistfeld who can rebound as well as anyone and knock down the tough jumper as well along with fellow senior guard Kaeli Stayer who can be absolutely deadly behind the arc.  Still, there's a lot of unproven youth on this team and although I think this squad has the potential to be "better" this season, it's just really hard to pinpoint how that "better" translates into more "W's" this time around.

St. Olaf is another program looking to make amends after the last few disappointing seasons and this time around they might just have the goods to do just that.  There's a nice blend of experience and youth on this team with senior post Britta Koenen leading the way and she'll have help from experienced senior guard Ella Skrien and fellow seniors Kelsie Gerovac, Katie Crowley and Allyson Fuller.  Again, a lot of untested youth on this team that will have to quickly come along as this season progresses for Head Coach Dave Stromme if the Oles hope to make a major move this time around.


Bringing Up The Rear:

10.  Concordia
11.  Macalester
12.  Carleton

It seems weird seeing the Cobbers this low, doesn't it?  It just doesn't seem right when you consider that it wasn't all that long ago that Concordia was in the mix for MIAC titles and playoff appearances.  It's been a painful spiral downward for the Cobbers over the last few years and it'll likely be an equally painful journey as they get back on the road to respectability again.  Without question, this is the one team that just leaves me putting one big question mark next to their name.  Given that this is not only an incredibly young team with no seniors on it plus the fact that new Head Coach Kim Wagers has taken over for Jessica Rahman, it's indeed a new era up in Moorhead.  Because this team is so incredibly young, inconsistency will likely be the result but at the same time, you almost have to figure that this could be the most dangerous team in the conference if they get their act together. 

It's a similar story at Macalester where new Head Coach Katie Kollar has taken the reigns of the Scot program.  But unlike Concordia, Macalester does have some good experience coming back; particularly in the backcourt where seniors Holly Hull and Tyana Loiselle will bring a lot of experience.  Perhaps one of the most exciting players from last year is back as well as junior Justine Barraza will add a lot of stability to the backcourt as well.  The big thing for Macalester is trying to get some depth at the key positions that could boost their chances. 

And there's a change at Carleton as well but in a different sort of way as they've gone retro in bringing back Tammy Metcalf-Filzen for at least the 2019-20 campaign.  Now, we all remember the glory days of the Knights in the 2000s.  Unfortunately, this isn't one of those teams this time around but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect this team to be better in some ways.  The Knights do have a couple of stellar players returning for this season in senior guard Katie Chavez and senior forward Samantha Cooke.  Beyond that, it's going to be up to Metcalf-Filzen to develop her young players to provide some much-needed depth.  As Jerry Reed once sang, "We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there."


So there you have my fearless picks for this year.  Feel free to fire away with thoughts.