It's a big day for me and my Los Angeles Rams on this NFL Championship Sunday but there's also a helluva lot to talk about on this day as well on the MIAC Women's Hoops front after what happened yesterday and this last week. All I can say is, buckle your seatbelts because the home stretch of the regular season is now upon us and yesterday showed that there's still a lot of unpredictability with these teams. So, let's get to it.
1. Augsburg
2. GAC
3. Hamline
4. Bethel
5. Concordia
6. CSB
7. Carleton
8. (tie) St. Kate's & Macalester
9. SMU
10. St. Scholastica
11. St. Olaf
Well, the unthinkable finally happened yesterday as Augsburg made the trip down to Northfield and got upended by a tricky Carleton team 59-49 that they had walloped back in early December by almost thirty. Not enough to knock them off the top of the mountain in my Power Rankings but they were certainly served notice yesterday that nobody is going to just give them the MIAC title without a fight and that they'd better be ready to play each and every game from here on out. On paper anyway, this next week should go as planned for the Auggies with a trip over to the St. Paul side of town to play St. Kate's and then hosting St. Olaf next Saturday. The Gusties may not have won any style points on Wednesday night with their 56-46 win over St. Olaf but they got the dub and then absolutely whomped on Macalester yesterday to solidify their hold on second place in the conference - and in my Power Rankings as well. And this coming week looks manageable for the Gusties as well as they'll make a trip over to Winona to face SMU on Wednesday night before hosting St. Kate's next Saturday.
Hamline rebounded nicely after this disappointing loss at Augsburg last Saturday with wins against SMU on Wednesday night and at St. Olaf yesterday. Presumably, they'll handle St. Scholastica without too much trouble at venerable Hutton Arena this next Wednesday night before making the long roadie up U.S. Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to Moorhead to face Concordia next Saturday which could be problematic. Bethel had to bounce back in a big way yesterday against St. Kate's after the awful shooting performance at Augsburg on Wednesday night and they did to stay in the thick of things. The good news for the Royals is that, on paper anyway, they have the easiest schedule coming down the stretch which includes two home games this coming week against CSB on Wednesday night and then SMU next Saturday.
I shoved Concordia up to the fifth spot this A.M. and deservedly so, I think, as they've now reeled off four straight wins - including at Macalester this last Wednesday night and then yesterday's thumping of CSB in cavernous Memorial Auditorium. So they seem to be trending the right way. They'll make a long trip down to Northfield on Wednesday to take on St. Olaf and, assuming they can get past them, they'll then face Hamline on Saturday which will obviously be a big test for the Cobbers but not totally out of the question either. Meanwhile, this CSB team is really tough to figure out. They thumped Carleton this last Wednesday but then took it on the chin yesterday against said Concordia up in Moorhead. So, will the REAL CSB team stand up? And it obviously doesn't get any easier for the Bennies this next week as they'll be at Bethel on Wednesday night before hosting Macalester next Saturday.
And how about those Carleton Knights? Despite taking the "L" against CSB on Wednesday night, they pulled out all the stops and knocked off mighty Augsburg yesterday. You never want to count out a Carleton team that's coached by someone as experienced and savvy as Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. Carleton hasn't shown the consistency needed to be a bona fide threat in the conference race but they do have an opportunity to get a couple more wins this week as they'll host Macalester on Wednesday night before taking on St. Scholastica on the shores of Gitche Gumee next Saturday. Two teams trending in the wrong direction right now - St. Kate's and Macalester. An inexplicable loss for the 'Cats up on the shores of said body of water this last Wednesday night before yesterday's somewhat predictable debacle at Bethel. And guess which two teams loom for the Wildcats this next week? Augsburg and GAC. Gulp. The Scots meanwhile were extremely gracious hosts this last week as both Concordia and GAC came into Leonard Center and cleaned Macalester's clock. Now the Scots have to go on the road this next week - at Carleton on Wednesday night and then up at CSB next Saturday.
Feel free to fire away with thoughts.....
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