The MIAC Playoffs for the 2021-22 season are in an expanded format this year with all 12 teams competing this time around due to COVID-impacted schedules throughout the regular season. With the expanded format, I'll be doing things a little differently this time around so first, we'll start with tomorrow's "play-in" games involving eight teams for the right to advance into Tuesday night's Quarterfinal round. So, here we go with a look at tomorrow's (Saturday's) games:
1. St. Olaf at SMU - I give the Cardinals the big edge in this one because (1) they're playing at home in Winona and (2) because SMU has the MIAC's top scorer in senior guard Brooklyn Paulson who averages 18.0 a clip. It helps the Cardinals' cause when Paulson gets some help along the way and both junior guard Ashley Streveler and freshman guard Izzy Goettelman are capable of doing just that. St. Olaf has a big weapon in junior forward Rachel Kelly (14.7 ppg) and senior guard K'Lynn Lewis isn't far behind (13.5 ppg). But the Oles two road wins this season came against Macalester and St. Scholastica and I give the clear edge to SMU to advance in the Quarterfinal round to visit top-seeded Augsburg.
2. St. Scholastica at CSB - I don't think there's too much question here that the Bennies are the clear favorites here as well they should be. They're led by sophomore point guard Carla Meyer (14.7 ppg). Given the prevalence of youth on this team with only one senior (Madi Doran), this has been an up-and-down year to be sure but it's difficult to see the Bennies being tripped up here. It's been a learning process for new MIAC member St. Scholastica but they do have a great scorer in sophomore guard Miranda Broberg (14.6 ppg). In any event, a clear edge for CSB to move into the Quarterfinal Round to visit fourth-seeded Hamline.
3. Macalester at Carleton - If you would have told me back in January that the Knights might possibly be the spoiler of this whole party, I probably would have tried to find a way to have you put in an institution. Yet, lo and behold, Carleton came out of nowhere and won seven of their last eight games. They're led by sophomore Jasmine Choi (15.0 ppg) and senior Jill Yanai (11.7 ppg) and junior Aiana Whitfield (11.4 ppg) aren't far behind. This is definitely the team to keep your eye on and although winning the whole thing might be a bridge too far in reality, they may be laying the foundation for much better things to come. It has been a rough year for Macalester but the Scots always do find a way to put up a good fight. They're led by senior Celine Sabbagh (14.6 ppg) and junior Solana Cushing (10.0 ppg) can terrorize behind the arc when she's on. That said, I just don't see a path forward for Macalester in this one as Carleton has the clear edge to advance to the Quarterfinal round to visit third-seeded Bethel.
4. St. Kate's at Concordia - This just may be the most intriguing game of all on Saturday and it's fitting that it's in the 3:00 P.M. slot as I predict a lot of fireworks in this one. And I think it will be the Wildcats providing most of the fireworks in this tilt IF they play the way they're capable of playing. Keep in mind, this is a squad that was mired in a seven-game losing streak from mid-January through early February. This is a team that swept SMU and split with Carleton as well so take that for what it's worth. The Wildcats are led by senior forward Sam Orth (11.1 ppg) and she's a rebounding machine at times; as tough as they come. Junior forward Bree Glynn has also started coming on as well (8.3 ppg). I've been perplexed at how Concordia has been just an utter disappointment this season considering the talent they have and what they had coming back from last year when things looked incredibly promising. The Cobbers are led by junior Emily Beseman (12.2 ppg) and senior Mary Sem can pack a scoring punch as well (11.8 ppg). I haven't seen the Cobbers play since early January but, for whatever reason, they haven't been able to put it together and because of that, I'm giving the edge to St. Kate's to come away with a win in Moorhead and advance into the Quarterfinal round to play at GAC.
Will be watching games online tomorrow and will have an insight on the top four seeds and their prospects tomorrow night as well.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? Feel free to fire away with thoughts.
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