Last week Sunday, things seemed to be so simple; so clear with the six team that were likely not only going to be in the playoffs but the seeding order seemed set as well. So while the six teams themselves haven't changed, there's sure been some shake-up after the first two teams. So, here we go:
1. GAC
2. Concordia
3. Hamline
4. St. Kate's
5. (tie) CSB & Bethel
6. (tie) Augsburg & St. Olaf
7. Carleton & SMU
8. Macalester
9. St. Scholastica
So, little need for discussion about the first two spots as the Showdown in St. Peter is now set for this Wednesday night. However, in terms of these two teams getting themselves set up for this classic showdown, they took vastly different paths. GAC on the one hand, left little to doubt as they bludgeoned St. Scholastica, CSB and then Macalester yesterday to keep their firm grip on the mantle of the top spot. Granted, the Gusties may not have necessarily brought their "A" game to Leonard Center yesterday but when you can still find other ways to win comfortably, that's saying something. Concordia on the other hand decided that drama and flair would be the best path as they came from 17 down to beat CSB on Monday night, got a rather ho-hum victory on Wednesday night vs Macalester and then pulled out a thrilling 67-66 win over St. Kate's at Butler Center yesterday. You wonder sometimes how much the Cobbers have left in the tank - both physically and emotionally - but the fact that they're still finding ways to win says something about this team. I'll have more to say about this game early this next week although I can say that Concordia will probably have it a bit easier this next Saturday as they'll host St. Scholastica while the Gusties have to host an always-dangerous St. Kate's team.
Okay, so here's where things start getting really messy. I had to shove Hamline up from the fifth spot last week up to the number three spot today in my Power Rankings simply because I didn't have much of a choice. And don't think that the Pipers came away unscathed in the latest mess from this last week - they didn't as they got dough-popped by SMU down in Winona this last Monday night. But, they responded better than many others did as they hammered Bethel on Wednesday night at Hutton Arena and then simply leveled CSB up at Claire Lynch Hall in St. Joe yesterday. It wasn't perfect by any means but things definitely worked out well for Hamline this last week and on paper anyway, they should again this coming week as they'll host St. Scholastica on Wednesday night and then Augsburg next Saturday so this is a big chance for Hamline to firm its grip on the third playoff spot..... And little choice but to slide St. Kate's up to the fourth spot in my Power Rankings on this day simply because of what they did this last week and (almost) did yesterday as the 'Cats got an easy win at Macalester on Monday night and then came from behind to knock off always-tricky Carleton on Wednesday night before yesterday's heart-breaking one-point loss to Concordia. A week ago, I would have said that the odds of beating Bethel at Robertson Center this Wednesday night weren't very good but after this last week, I would say those odds have evened out significantly now. However, the trip down US Highway 169 and the Union Pacific's Mankato Sub to St. Peter to face GAC on Saturday will likely be a bridge too far.
You would have thought that going into this last week that both CSB and Bethel would have found ways to at least solidify their holds on the third and fourth playoff seeding spots. Instead, both came crashing back to earth in absolutely frightening fashion. Let's talk about the Bennies first: Blowing a 17-point lead at Concordia last Monday night, getting absolutely hammered at GAC on Wednesday night before yesterday's shocking 77-58 defeat at the hands of Hamline at Claire Lynch. Strictly on paper, this coming week would ordinarily look like two easy wins for CSB with Carleton coming to St. Joe on Wednesday night and SMU doing likewise next Saturday. But after this last week, you simply can't count on that now and while it's difficult to envision the Bennies in a complete free-fall, their hopes of hosting a playoff game may have quickly gone out the window......Bethel meanwhile may already be in a free-fall as disasters this last week - getting hammered at Augsburg on Monday night, getting hammered at Hamline on Wednesday night before yesterday's shocking overtime loss at home in Robertson Center to Carleton has the Royals mired in a five-game skid and I honestly don't know if they have any hope of reversing this tailspin. They host St. Kate's on Wednesday night and then go down to Northfield to take on St. Olaf next Saturday and both of those games could easily turn out to be "Ls" too.
We're on the home stretch of the regular season where playing well and staying healthy is absolutely critical. Feel free to fire away with thoughts.
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