First Regional Rankings Released This Last Wednesday

I realize I'm a wee bit late in getting this out but wanted to put out the first regional rankings that were released this last Wednesday afternoon (2-12) and take a look at how the West Region stacked up.  I've updated the records with the action of this last week as well.


1.  Loras                                                                  12-2   21-2
2.  Wartburg                                                            12-2   20-3
3.  Bethel                                                                17-1   22-1
4.  Whitman                                                           13-1   21-2
5.  Augsburg                                                          16-2   20-3
6.  UST                                                                  14-4   18-5
7.  George Fox                                                        9-5   17-6
8.  Simpson                                                             8-6   16-7   


When I caught up with Bethel Head Coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer before the game vs UST this last Wednesday night, I asked him if he was surprised or disappointed with where his squad was when the first regional rankings were released.  "We were where I'd expected we'd be; in the third or fourth position."  This, of course, was the punishment handed out to the Royals after the upset loss they suffered at the hands of SMU this last Saturday.  Now, given the fact that the Royals took care of business this last week, beating both UST and GAC, will that prompt the Committee shoving Bethel up ahead of BOTH Loras and Wartburg; both out of the ARC?  Honestly, your guess is as good as mine but given the history of how I've seen the rankings go over the last few years, I'm not counting on it.  Loras took care of both Coe and Dubuque this last week and Wartburg scored easy wins over both Buena Vista and Simpson so the upcoming showdown in the ARC this next week between Wartburg and Loras in Dubuque this coming Wednesday night is huge for both teams but since the next release will come out hours BEFORE that game, I'm just guessing you won't see much of a change - yet anyway - at the top.  Whitman will likely remain entrenched in the fourth spot and their path this week isn't too demanding - at least on paper anyway - with games against both Whitworth and Linfield in the offing. 

So while many may be focusing on the Wartburg vs Loras game this coming Wednesday night, there's an equally huge game up the Canadian Pacific Railway's Marquette and River Sub mainlines right here in the Twin Cities on Wednesday night as Augsburg makes the short run over to Robertson Center to face Bethel.  Had the Royals not suffered that unexpected loss to SMU the previous weekend, I would say that this rematch wouldn't pose that much pressure on them.  But if they're going to leapfrog both Wartburg and Loras, one could make the argument that this game almost becomes a "must" for them.  To their credit, UST already has two wins over regionally-ranked teams (East Texas Baptist and Trinity) so their situation isn't quite as dire and their last two regular season games (at home) vs St. Olaf and SMU looks manageable.  The same can't be said for both George Fox out of the NWC or Simpson out of the ARC.  No teams from the UMAC made it into the regional rankings - yet anway - but this looks to shake out much like it did last year with both Bethany Lutheran and UW-Superior currently tied at the top with 12-2 conference records and Northwestern right behind at 11-3. 

God, this is a fun time of the year, isn't it?  😊