Some more movement and shifting on this Divisional Playoff Sunday (especially in the middle) after this last week of play so let's get right to it:
1. GAC
2. Concordia
3. (tie) Bethel & CSB
4. (tie) Hamline & St. Kate's
5. St. Olaf
6. Augsburg
7. SMU
8. Carleton
9. Macalester
10. St. Scholastica
Again, not too much of a question at the top spot where the Gusties continue to run roughshod as they did this last week with lopsided wins at home against both Hamline and St. Olaf and yesterday's demolition of Carleton at West Gym in Northfield. But GAC has a huge challenge this Wednesday night when they have to bound up US Highway 169 and the Union Pacific's famed Omaha Route mainline up to the Twin Cities where they'll undoubtedly face a stiff challenge from Bethel at Robertson Center before they do it all over again on Saturday when they take on always-tricky Augsburg at Si Melby Hall......Concordia must've felt like they traveled the world this last week after coming down to the Twin Cities this last Monday night to earn a tough road win at Macalester and then getting back home and hanging on to knock off Augsburg on Wednesday night before yesterday's long trip down to Winona where they claimed a tough six-point win over an upset-minded SMU team. Taxing or not, the Cobbers did what they had to do in order to hang on to the second spot in my Power Rankings but whether they can do that again this next week is totally up in the air as they must travel to St. Olaf to face a much-improved Ole team on Wednesday night before hosting Bethel in the comfy confines of cavernous Memorial Auditorium this next Saturday.
And it's becoming increasingly clear that it's going to be a literal street fight for that coveted second spot. Bethel quietly took care of routine business as they were expected to with easy road wins at both St. Scholastica this last Wednesday night and at Macalester yesterday. But this coming week is undoubtedly the toughest challenge yet for Interim Head Coach Scott Lauinger and his staff as the Royals host said GAC team on Wednesday night before heading up US Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to Moorhead to take on said Concordia team next Saturday......And CSB is showing its mettle with three important wins this last week - at Carleton last Monday night, at home against St. Kate's last Wednesday night before yesterday's big road win at Augsburg. And the Bennies might be better-positioned to move up this next week as they'll host St. Scholastica on Wednesday night before hosting St. Olaf next Saturday.
And things continue to remain muddled in the middle. Hamline continues to show that it can't get out of its own way as they managed to sandwich a road victory at Carleton this last Wednesday night after getting pounded into submission by GAC two nights before and then yesterday's somewhat predictable loss at St. Olaf. You can't help but look at this coming week as a "must" week for the Pipers as they'll get Macalester on Wednesday night and then St. Kate's on Saturday - both in the comfy confines of venerable Hutton Arena. And neither of those games can be looked at as guarantees for the Pipers either the way things are going for them right now.....St. Kate's meanwhile came away with a split this last week; eating some humble pie up at CSB last Wednesday night and then summarily dispatching St. Scholastica yesterday at Butler Center. In many ways, the Wildcats have a "must" week for them too as SMU pays a visit to Butler Center on Wednesday night before the aforementioned showdown with said Hamline team at Hutton Arena next Saturday.
It was about as wild of a week that you could hope to get but that seems to be the norm for St. Olaf nowadays as they dispatched St. Scholastica this last Monday night at Skoglund Center, then got absolutely pummeled into oblivion by GAC in St. Peter on Wednesday night before yesterday's big home win over Hamline. Again, we've talked about the consistency issue when it comes to the Oles and they'll have to find some semblance of it this coming week as they'll host Concordia on Wednesday night and then make a trip up to CSB next Saturday.....Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away" may very well best describe Augsburg at the moment as their fortunes continue to crumble. The Auggies did get the W at SMU this last Monday night but couldn't complete the deal up in Moorhead this last Wednesday night against Concordia before yesterday's nail-biting loss against CSB where Jaley Coplin almost single-handedly saved her team (and if she isn't considered for MIAC POY honors at the end of the year, there's something terribly messed up in MIAC-land). Right now, it's unclear when Anja Smith returns to the Auggie line-up and with home games this coming Wednesday night against Carleton and then next Saturday against GAC, Augsburg would probably be fortunate to come away with a split.
So, there you have this week's edition. As always, feel free to fire away with thoughts.
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