MIAC Power Rankings For Sunday 2-14-16

Things are finally beginning to take shape as far as the MIAC playoff picture is concerned on this Valentine's Day Sunday:


1.  UST
2.  SMU
3.  GAC
4.  Concordia
5.  Bethel
6.  CSB
7.  Augsburg
8.  St. Olaf
9.  St. Kate's
10.  Macalester
11.  Carleton
12.  Hamline


UST widens the gap between themselves and second place SMU as they added two more wins this last week; most notably yesterday's 69-67 overtime thriller at Bethel.  The Cardinals meanwhile had to settle for a split as they got the big win at home yesterday against St. Olaf but were knocked off on Wednesday at Bethel.  Though SMU hangs on to the number two spot in my power rankings, they had better be careful in this last week of the regular season as they're on the road Wednesday at Hamline and finish up the regular season next Saturday at UST - which could be a little MIAC Championship Game preview.  More importantly, both GAC and Concordia are a game behind the Cardinals and coming away with just a split this week could prove fatal to SMU's hopes of hanging on to that number two seed in the playoffs.

GAC had another good week; recording big wins at home against St. Olaf on Wednesday and Hamline yesterday and looked pretty impressive in doing it.  This last week could be a challenge as the Gusties travel up to St. Joe to take on CSB on Wednesday night; a venue where they haven't enjoyed a lot of success over the years.  At the same time, make no mistake about it:  This last week presents a huge opportunity for GAC to get two wins and possibly wrest that number two seed away from SMU.  The same could be said for Concordia as they came away with two wins as well this last week and, on paper anyway, they should record two more "W's" in the last week of the regular season.  The Cobbers looked solid in their home win yesterday over CSB and props to Concordia for honoring the memory of the late Leanne Miller.

Oh, what COULD have been for the Bethel Royals.  They got the big win at home on Wednesday night against SMU and had mighty UST on the ropes before losing in heartbreaking fashion in overtime yesterday.  Still, the Royals have an opportunity to make amends and get locked into the fifth spot as they go on the road to Carleton on Wednesday night and then down Snelling Avenue to Hamline on Saturday.  CSB finishes the regular season with two games at home in Claire Lynch but both games will be big challenges - GAC on Wednesday night and then Augsburg on Saturday and the Blazers are by no means out of the woods yet as far as clinching that sixth spot.

Augsburg came away with a split this last week which was more or less anticipated with last Wednesday night's game at UST but, more importantly, the Auggies suffered a big blow when point guard Maria Loughlin was lost for the season with a broken foot.  A damn shame as well as Loughlin was arguably one of the best playmakers to come along in the MIAC in a long, long time.  Still, the Auggies have a shot at that sixth spot if they can take care of business this next week AND get a bit of help from GAC on Wednesday night as well.  While St. Olaf is falling faster and harder than the obligatory anvil in the Road Runner/Wylie Coyote cartoons, St. Kate's has quietly gone on a nice little three-game win streak as of late and can only wonder what might have been had they been able to take care of business back in January.