Wasn't able to get out to any games yesterday unfortunately as I had a lot of things going on but did manage to keep track of everything online. Anyway, here we are on Groundhog Day in the home stretch of the 2024-25 regular season and while things are obviously coming into shape for the upcoming MIAC Playoffs later this month, there's still some important shifts in my latest Power Rankings from last weekend:
1. Bethel
2. GAC
3. (tie) Hamline & CSB
4. St. Scholastica
5. Concordia
6. SMU
7. St. Kate's
8. Macalester
9. Carleton
10. Augsburg
11. St. Olaf
No surprise at all at the first two spots as both the Royals and the Gusties took care of business this last week. Bethel whomped up on Augsburg this last Wednesday night but had to fend off a tough challenge down in Winona yesterday from SMU. Now, this coming week shapes up as the real deal. First, the Royals make the run down to Northfield on Wednesday night to take on Carleton before returning home for Saturday's huge showdown with GAC.....The Gusties meanwhile had a routine ho-hum week as they got by Macalester by twenty at home and then curb-stomped Augsburg here in town yesterday. It's a bit trickier for GAC for this week as they host a very-improved SMU team on Wednesday night before making the trip up US Highway 169 and the UP's Mankato Sub mainline to take on said Bethel team over in Arden Hills this next Saturday so the Gusties certainly can't be looking ahead when they play the Cardinals Wednesday night.
Two teams share the third spot on this Sunday. First, Hamline came away with a split this last week which wasn't a terrible proposition as they're still in a very good spot. The Pipers got a convincing win at home against SMU this last Wednesday night but it was a long trip back home down US Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline yesterday after taking it on the chin from an angry Concordia team. But this coming week looks doable for Hamline on paper as they run over to Augsburg on Wednesday night and then host Macalester this next Saturday.......CSB meanwhile looks to have turned things around as they've got a four-game win streak going and they got it done down in Northfield; beating St. Olaf this last Wednesday night and then holding off a stern challenge from Carleton yesterday. But this coming week looks to be a much tougher challenge for the Bennies as they travel up to the frigid shores of Gitche Gumee to take on St. Scholastica - a team that popped the Bennies in St. Joe this last month - before returning home to take on a Concordia team that is in somewhat dire straits at the moment.
And it was also a very good week for the Saints as they turned things around by blowing out Carleton at home this last Wednesday night and then pulled away down the stretch from Macalester yesterday over in St Paul. But this coming week will prove to be a challenge for St. Scholastica as they host a CSB team that will likely be out for revenge on Wednesday night before taking the long trip down to Winona to face SMU on Saturday so we should find out a lot about the Saints this week......Oh those confounding Concordia Cobbers who slide further down to the fifth spot on this Sunday. The Cobbers suffered a disastrous loss this last Wednesday night at St. Kate's and although they recovered nicely by bopping Hamline at home yesterday in convincing fashion, they've still got a lot of company ahead of them in the standings with regards to the third and fourth MIAC Playoff slots and that aspect alone makes this coming week an absolute "must win" week for Concordia. This Wednesday night certainly looks like a doable deal with St. Olaf coming to town but this Saturday looms huge for the Cobbers as they run down to St. Joe to take on CSB.
Three teams are currently on the outside looking in with regards to the MIAC Playoffs and all three need a TON of help coming down the stretch to keep their slim MIAC Playoff hopes alive. In my sixth spot today is SMU and the Cardinals dropped both of their games this last week which was more or less expected - at Hamline this last Wednesday night and then the tough one at home yesterday against Bethel. But the bad news for SMU is that this coming week will likely bring nothing better than a split (if that) as they travel to GAC on Wednesday night before returning home to face St. Scholastica on Saturday.......It was a very good week for the Wildcats as they upset Concordia at home this last Wednesday night and then raced past St. Olaf yesterday down in Northfield. But it very well may be a case of too little, too late for St. Kate's and they may be fortunate to come away with a split this coming week as they make the short run over to Leonard Center to face Macalester on Wednesday night before hosting Carleton this next Saturday.......Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away" may be the best description one could use for Macalester as they dropped two critical games this last week - even if it was expected - at GAC this last Wednesday night and then at home against St. Scholastica yesterday. And the horizon may not be that much brighter with aforementioned St. Kate's team coming over on Wednesday night before a run on Snelling Avenue over to Hutton Arena to face Hamline on Saturday.
So there's how I see things looking at the moment. As always, please feel free to fire away with thoughts.
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