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| SMU got it done yesterday at home against Concordia. |
Didn't get to cover any games yesterday because my LA Rams started off Wildcard Weekend on Saturday afternoon but that didn't stop me from watching games online. In all the years that I've done this, I don't ever recall having THREE teams tied atop the standings and then four more teams right behind them all tied for second place - especially in early January. Yet that's exactly where we are at the moment and it's certainly resulted in some revisions in my Power Rankings on this day so let's get to it:
1. (tie) Concordia, Bethel & SMU
2. Hamline
3. GAC
4. (tie) CSB & St. Scholastica
5. Augsburg
6. Carleton
7. St. Kate's
8. St. Olaf
9. Macalester
What a week it was for the three team tied atop both the standings and my Power Rankings on this day. The Cobbers easily took care of business on the east side of Northfield against Carleton on Wednesday night but their normally-potent offensive attack was shackled yesterday down in Winona against SMU. Concordia does have two home games this coming week but they have to quickly get things turned around for Wednesday evening's big clash with GAC before Augsburg comes to town next Saturday........Bethel meanwhile got through the week "clean" but neither of the wins this last week were what you'd call impressive by any stretch. They had to survive a 70-69 thriller against SMU on Wednesday night and yesterday the Royals found themselves down 29-27 to Carleton at halftime at home before rallying for an otherwise uninspiring 62-55 win. And things could get tricky for Bethel this coming week as they take their show on the road - first down to the west side of Northfield to take on St. Olaf on Wednesday night before a trip up to the frigid shores of Gitche Gumee to face off against St. Scholastica on Saturday........And it was definitely a wild roller coaster ride for SMU this last week as they fell just short against Bethel last Wednesday night in a 70-69 heartbreaker but turned things around yesterday in shutting down a normally-potent Concordia attack that not only has them entangled in a three-way dispute at the top but also gives their NPI ranking a huge boost as well. On paper anyway, the Cardinals appear to have the easiest path forward - certainly for this week anyway - as they'll host Augsburg on Wednesday night before a trip back up US Highway 61 and the CPKC River Sub mainline to St Paul to take on St. Kate's this next Saturday.
Somewhat surprisingly, the biggest beneficiary of the results this last week might very well be Hamline but to be sure, the Pipers didn't take any chances as they held off a stern test from St. Scholastica on Wednesday night before yesterday's huge road win up at CSB. And if you look at the road ahead for Hamline, it's easy to see that things could be setting up very well for them over the next week or so. For this coming week anyway, things certainly look manageable with two home games - against Carleton on Wednesday night and then against St. Olaf on Saturday........The Gusties took care of business on their end this last week as well; dumping St. Olaf on Wednesday night before holding off a pesky St. Kate's team yesterday over at Butler Center. But GAC will likely have to settle for a split this coming week as the dreaded road trip up to Moorhead to play Concordia on Wednesday awaits before the Gusties host Macalester this next Saturday.
CSB had to settle for a split this last week; holding off a stubborn Macalester team in St Paul this last Wednesday night before the faltered down the stretch at home against Hamline yesterday. I look at this coming week as critical for the Bennies if they want to avoid last year's January swoon as they'll host St. Kate's on Wednesday night before a trip down to Northfield to take on Carleton this coming Saturday........St. Scholastica had to take a split this last week as well as they fell at Hamline on Wednesday night before recovering yesterday in getting a big road win at St. Olaf. The guess here is that this next week will be more of the same - even with two home games - as the Saints will host Macalester on Wednesday night before Bethel comes to town this coming Saturday.........Augsburg has an uphill battle to say the least in their hopes of staying alive in all this as the Auggies have to go down to Winona on Wednesday evening to face SMU before the dreaded trip up US Highway 10 and the BNSF Staples Sub mainline up to Moorhead to take on Concordia this coming Saturday.
So that's how things are looking on this Sunday. As always, please feel free to fire away with thoughts.
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