Well, it's here! The culmination of another MIAC season with today's MIAC Championship Game that features the rematch that pretty much everybody (including yours truly) had wanted and anticipated - Concordia vs GAC - takes place at 3:00 P.M. down in St. Peter today and you know that I'll definitely be there.
The difference this time around for me is that, when I walk into this one and look at all the of stats and records and storylines with this matchup, it's incredibly difficult for me to say how I think this one will go. Of all the MIAC Championship Games I've covered over the years, I've never been so torn as to whom I think will emerge victorious in this game today. The reason for that is that I think you can make solid arguments either way. We know that, for the Gusties anyway, they not only have the homecourt advantage, they also have the "Been there - done that" mental advantage that's always so huge in a situation like this. And yeah, they've been playing pretty solid basketball as of late too. And, to the best of my knowledge anyway, they're healthy. And that's always big. Are they a little more vulnerable with a bigger target on their back this time around? Maybe, but I can't answer that question accurately. Only they can. Meanwhile, you look at Concordia and although St. Kate's did a much better job on Thursday night of slowing down a very potent Cobber offensive attack, Concordia stood firm and still found a way to get the job done without too much fuss or argument. I stated in my MIAC Playoff Preview that I felt that last year's Cobber team was in the process of finding its way around in trying to assert itself as one of the top teams in the conference. This year's version is a stronger and much more confident team. Let's remember that right after the first of the year, Concordia had the Gusties down double digits at the halftime break and it took a big rally by the Gusties to prevail on that night. And the Cobbers would inevitably get their revenge earlier this month up in Moorhead. So they have that going for them. Plus, I think you have to factor in that Concordia will be coming into this game with a much higher sense of urgency with regard to its NCAA Tournament hopes as the Gusties are a virtual "lock". Now, that in and of itself doesn't necessarily dictate how this contest will go but it will be one of those intangible factors nonetheless. Bottom line here: Don't be square, BE there because this has the makings of being a classic.
Elsewhere, we saw UW-Stout run roughshod over UW-River Falls, UW-Whitewater and then WIAC regular season champ UW-Oshkosh just last night to claim their first WIAC Championship Game title in seventeen years and the conference's automatic bid to the Dance that goes with it. It was such an impressive performance by this Blue Devils team and they may be peaking at just the right time. You can bet now that, once again, the WIAC will be a three-bid league with these three teams all receiving invites to the Big Dance.
Over in the UMAC, top-seeded UW-Superior faces second-seeded UM-Morris at home along the shores of Gitche Gumee and you have to think that the Yellowjackets will prevail at home to get the conference's automatic bid. What UW-Superior Head Coach (and former standout player) Emily Carpenter has done in bringing this team along in just her second year at the top spot is nothing less than amazing and it's a great story.
Now, where the key for the MIAC (and specifically Concordia) lies today is in the ARC Championship Game down in Waverly, IA where top-seeded Wartburg hosts second-seeded Loras. Logic would suggest that the Knights will prevail at home over the Duhawks and because we already know that the Cobbers were ranked higher than Loras in the last set of Regional Rankings, a Wartburg victory would all but ensure that the ARC remains a one-bid league. That, in turn, MAY provide a path for Concordia should they come up short today down in St. Peter. I can't guarantee that but that seems to be the train of thought from what I've been gathering over the last few days. Again, we'll see. You can bet that Head Coach Kim Wagers and her staff would much prefer to do it the old-fashioned way with the automatic bid.
As to who/whom hosts or goes where? Well, we'll just have to see how that unfolds. Naturally, it would be great for the MIAC if GAC could host a 1st/2nd Round pod at their facility but many thought that that would happen last year and they got shipped off to UW-Whitewater. At this juncture, regardless of what happens in St. Peter today, I'm guessing that the Gusties will likely wind up taking their show on the road and if Concordia either prevails today or gets in with an at-large bid, it'll be the same scenario.
Again, get your behind over to Lund Arena at GAC today. It should be a fun one for sure!
No comments:
Post a Comment