So here's my final Power Rankings of this 2021-22 regular season on the eve of the MIAC Playoffs. And yes, having my Los Angeles Rams hoist the Lombardi Trophy - FINALLY - after all these years, was truly awesome.
1. GAC
2. Augsburg
3. Bethel
4. Hamline
5. Carleton
6. CSB
7. SMU
8. St. Olaf
9. St. Kate's
10. Concordia
11. Macalester
12. St. Scholastica
Okay, so on my last Power Rankings of this regular season, I felt compelled to make a change at the top spot and I don't ever recall ever having to do that before but this time around, I felt like I had no choice but to put GAC into the top spot. Why? Simply because the "eye test" told me that GAC is currently playing the best ball of anyone right now and, more importantly, they're showing it on both ends of the floor and that's why I put them in the top spot. If you told me a mere two weeks ago that I'd be doing this after the debacle in Winona against SMU, I'd have probably scoffed in much the same manner if someone had told me back in November that my LA Rams would be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. But, I digress. And look, this isn't a knock on the Auggies either as they took care of business this last week in convincing fashion. But over the course of these last two weeks, things changed and that's why GAC is in my top spot.
If anyone would have an argument with this, it should be Bethel as they've been the steadiest team of all riding an eight-game win streak. The only area I'd have room to push back is that the Royals took their lumps early on in the season when they had a lot of their top players out with injuries and other maladies that caused them to stumble. Either way, they're in a pretty good spot. Hamline meanwhile has stumbled as of late and although they got a convincing win at Macalester on Wednesday night, they got exposed in glaring fashion in the home loss to GAC on Monday night.
Carleton has easily turned into the most dangerous team in the conference and was riding an impressive seven-game win streak before finally being stopped by Bethel in a humdinger over at Robertson Center on Wednesday night. All I can say is that this Carleton team is probably the LAST team fellow conference members will want to play in the upcoming MIAC Playoffs. CSB has been so up-and-down this season that it's really been hard to get a feel for them. You just never know what to expect from this group. SMU got some attention after that home win over GAC but they haven't been steady or consistent enough - yet anyway - to be a legitimate threat to the upper echelon of the conference. But crazier things have happened in the MIAC Playoffs before. There hasn't been a lot to cheer about over on the west side of Northfield this season but the Oles did get a nice win on Wednesday night over new member St. Scholastica.
It's been something of a rough season for St. Kate's but they've still had their moments and they looked very good in their win over SMU Wednesday night. The question is, can they do this on the road? So while that question can be debated, there's little debate that the biggest disappointment this season has been Concordia. This is a team that had virtually everybody back and ready to make that proverbial next step after some promising episodes in a truncated season last year. For whatever reason, that never happened and the Cobbers ended the regular season in a total tailspin; losing seven straight. Macalester had a few good moments this season but not nearly enough as the Scots rode out the regular season in a Chicago Cubs-like swoon; losing nine straight. Not a lot was expected from St. Scholastica this season and they certainly didn't disappoint but they didn't roll over either as they got MIAC wins over St. Kate's, Macalester and Concordia.
So there you have it for the regular season. Fire away with thoughts.....
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