MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 1-12-20

Some monumental games in the conference this last week to be sure but the end result has resulted in some rather massive logjams in my latest Power Rankings that will hopefully untangle in the coming weeks.  Let's take a look:


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


Bethel has established itself - and rightfully so - as the king of the hill after getting two big Top-25  victories this last week; including the thriller at Si Melby Hall against Augsburg on Wednesday night.  On paper anyway, this coming week looks to be considerably less taxing with St. Olaf coming to town on Wednesday night before a trip to CSB next Saturday.  I felt it was necessary to keep both Augsburg and GAC welded together in that second spot after both fell victim to the Bethel Express this last week.  That'll almost certainly change after this next weekend when the Auggies and Gusties meet up at Lund Arena in St. Peter in yet another huge conference battle.  Before that, Augsburg will have to host an-always dangerous St. Kate's team on Wednesday night while the Gusties will have to make the long, dreaded trip up to Moorhead to face Concordia.  So accustomed as UST has been in controlling the top spot for the last several years that floating along in the third spot may seem a little odd at first.  Yet, that might be what Head Coach Ruth Sinn wants right now for her young team as they quietly recorded a victory on the road at St. Olaf on Wednesday night before holding off CSB yesterday in Schoenecker Arena to stay very much in the thick of things.  This next week is a huge opportunity for the Tommies to consolidate on what they've done so far as Carleton comes to town on Wednesday night before a trip down U.S. Highway 61 and the Canadian Pacific Railway River Sub mainline to Winona to take on SMU on Saturday.   

Goodness, how about this Hamline team?  They continue to impress if not also causing those with weak hearts some extreme distress as they got a nice win on the road at Carleton on Wednesday night before yesterday's ultra-thrilling overtime win at home in Hutton Arena over SMU.  Presumably anyway, the Pipers should be able to keep this train rolling with Macalester making the trip up Snelling Avenue on Wednesday night to Hutton Arena before Hamline makes that dreaded long trip up U.S. Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to Moorhead to face Concordia next Saturday.  Right below that, however, do we EVER have a logjam.  First, St. Olaf came away with a split this last week which wasn't bad at all; losing to UST on Wednesday night before getting the big crosstown rivalry win over Carleton yesterday.  That pattern will likely continue this next week as the Oles come up to the Twin Cities twice - first to take on Bethel on Wednesday night and then Macalester on Saturday.  Certainly an entirely doable proposition.  The Cobbers came away with a split this last week on two road games - beating Macalester on Wednesday night and then getting dough-popped by St. Kate's yesterday.  It's a good news/bad news proposition for Concordia this coming week as they DO have two home games.  The bad news?  The opponents are GAC (Wednesday night) and Hamline (Saturday afternoon).  I said last Sunday that the coming week was an almost "must" for St. Kate's - and they responded big-time with a huge win on the road at CSB on Wednesday night before yesterday's win over aforementioned Concordia team.  This coming week looks to be an iffy proposition as the 'Cats get on I-94 for the quick run over to Augsburg on Wednesday night before heading down to Northfield on Saturday to take on Carleton.  A split sure wouldn't be bad for them either.

Just not a good week at all for CSB as they absorbed a loss at home to St. Kate's on Wednesday night before playing UST tough yesterday but falling in the end.  The lifelines are quickly running out for the Blazers and if they don't find a way to get their act together soon, their playoff hopes will be toast.  They do have a chance to come away with at least a split this next week as they make the long roadie down to Winona to take on a slumping SMU team before Bethel comes a callin' on Saturday.  While the Knights are certainly improved from last year, I don't think anyone took them for a legitimate playoff threat yet and this last week underscored that notion as they were summarily dismissed by Hamline at home in West Gym on Wednesday night before losing a tough one yesterday across the river to crosstown rival St. Olaf.  This next week looks even more difficult as the Knights come up to the Twin Cities to take on UST Wednesday night before hosting St. Kate's this next Saturday.