A bit of a shakeup in my latest Power Rankings for today after the results from this last week:
1. Augsburg
2. GAC
3. Bethel
4. Hamline
5. Macalester
6. CSB
7. (tie) Concordia & St. Kate's
8. Carleton
9. St. Olaf
10. SMU
11. St. Scholastica
Augsburg retains the top spot after splattering Concordia this last Wednesday night but they had to pull a big-time escape job up in St. Joe yesterday; slithering past CSB 64-63 to remain unbeaten in the MIAC. This coming Wednesday night's contest with St. Scholastica should be academic but a big one looms next Saturday as the Auggies host a very good and very dangerous Hamline team. That game could be a measuring stick for them. GAC meanwhile is suffering something of an identity crisis given the injuries and defections they've had over the last few months. Still, they keep winning as road dubs over both CSB this last Wednesday night and yesterday on the shores of Gitche Gumee against St. Scholastica would suggest. Like the Auggies, the Gusties shouldn't have too much trouble as Carleton comes to St. Peter on Wednesday night but then a huge home game with Bethel looms this next Saturday.
Bethel continues to impress as they collected two relatively easy road wins - at Carleton last Wednesday night and then yesterday at Macalester. This week is a big one for the Royals - no doubt about it. They host Hamline on Wednesday night at Robertson Center and then next Saturday they make the trip down US Highway 169 and the Union Pacific's Mankato Sub mainline to take on said GAC team. Now, Hamline had been flying pretty high as of late but they got a bit caught up in reality (not to mention COVID protocols) this last week when Macalester came in to venerable Hutton Arena and dough-popped the Pipers 75-60. True, Hamline did recover and get a big road win at St. Kate's yesterday but this coming week is huge for the Pipers and their fortunes with the aforementioned games at Bethel on Wednesday night and then the appearance over at Si Melby Hall against league-leading Augsburg are both in the offing and we'll find out a lot about this team and their prospects going forward.
Few would have expected it but Macalester turned some heads with their win over at Hamline this last Wednesday night. True, a dose of reality set in yesterday after the Scots got thumped by Bethel but this coming week could be a very big week and big opportunity for Head Coach Katie Kollar and her team as the Scots host St. Olaf on Wednesday night before they make the trip down US Highway 61 and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City River Sub mainline to take on SMU in Winona - both very winnable games on paper anyway. Speaking of Winona, St. Kate's got a very big win down there on Wednesday night against SMU but then fell short of pulling off a big upset against Hamline yesterday at home in Butler Center. Consistency has been a problem all season long for the Wildcats and that may be their undoing as this season progresses. But, a big opportunity awaits the 'Cats this coming week as they host Concordia on Wednesday night and then make the trip down to Northfield to take on St. Olaf this next Saturday. Consistency and Concordia in the same sentence has been something of an oxymoron this season to be sure as the Cobbers managed to get a split this last week - getting thumped at Augsburg on Wednesday night before getting the win over SMU at home yesterday in cavernous Memorial Auditorium. Again, this coming week is going to be huge for Concordia and their MIAC playoff hopes and they've absolutely got to hold serve this week. Another trip to the Cities on Wednesday night to face said St. Kate's team before hosting Carleton next Saturday.
Fire away with thoughts.....
No comments:
Post a Comment