MIAC Power Rankings for Sunday 1-25-26

Thanks to senior sharp-shooter Camille Cummings, Hamline has run its win streak to ten straight which is more than good enough to get the Pipers in a tie for first place in my Power Rankings. 

 Well, here we are on Championship Sunday - GO RAMS GO!!!  Meanwhile, if you thought last week's quagmire of teams at the top was a mess, all I can say to you is "Hold my beer" while I make an attempt to sort out the chaos and unpredictability that is MIAC Women's Basketball at the moment.

1.  (tie) Bethel, Hamline & Concordia

2.  (tie) SMU, CSB, St. Scholastica & GAC

3.  Carleton

4.  St. Kate's

5.  Augsburg

6.  St. Olaf

7.  Macalester

Whew.......Okay, so as I'm sure you've seen the latest MIAC standings and the results from this last week, my Power Rankings are pretty much reflective of that.  So allow me to explain as to why each team is where they're currently at right now.

First, Bethel definitely responded after the debacle up along the frigid shores of Gitche Gumee the previous Saturday and got a big road win this last Wednesday night in thumping CSB before stopping the Concordia Express cold in its tracks yesterday in the comfy confines of Robertson Center yesterday so that alone has them at least in a tie for the first place spot in my Power Rankings today.  The Royals get Macalester at home this coming Wednesday evening which appears doable enough but a much, much tougher task awaits them this coming Saturday as they must venture down US Highway 61 and the CPKC River Sub mainline to Winona to face SMU........In all my years of covering the MIAC Women's hoops scene, I've never ever had Hamline in the top spot before - even in a tie with other teams yet here are the Pipers in this spot because, well, they keep winning and they easily handled Augsburg at home this last Wednesday night before stomping on St. Olaf down in Northfield yesterday.  But this 10-game joyride that Hamline has been enjoying could come to a crashing halt this coming Wednesday night as they must venture down US Highway 169 and the Union Pacific's Mankato Sub mainline down to St. Peter to face GAC before coming back to the safe confines of venerable Hutton Arena to host St. Kate's this coming Saturday........Speaking of trips, back-to-back trips on US Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline proved to be too much for Concordia as though they were able to dismiss Macalester on Wednesday night at Leonard Center, they ran out of gas yesterday in the big showdown at Robertson Center against Bethel.  But the Cobbers had better get their wounds licked quickly as they face two big tests this week - at home vs CSB on Wednesday night before another long roadie to St. Peter to face GAC on Saturday.

SMU definitely looked like it had any after-effects of its shocking setback at St. Kate's the previous Saturday licked as they blew out St. Olaf on Wednesday night but the Cardinals shocking loss to CSB yesterday at home in Winona now has a lot of question marks swirling around this team and its outlook; not to mention the fact that their NPI ranking took a significant hit yesterday as well.  This week certainly doesn't get any easier for the Cardinals either as they go to Northfield on Wednesday night to take on a very underrated and tricky Carleton team before a big showdown at home with Bethel this coming Saturday........CSB took it on the chin this last Wednesday at home against Bethel as most expected but they came out on fire yesterday and upended said SMU team down in Winona yesterday that helped the Bennies not only avoid a complete disaster but keep them right in the thick of things in the overall MIAC race and Playoff picture.  Without question, this is going to be another incredibly challenging week for the Bennies as CSB has to run up to Moorhead to face Concordia on Wednesday evening and then run up to Duluth to face St. Scholastica this coming Saturday........Speaking of the Saints, not many expected their trip to GAC this last Wednesday would go well and it didn't but things worked out for them anyway as they rebuffed a tricky Carleton team at home in Duluth yesterday.  When you look at St. Scholastica's remaining regular season schedule, you almost have to think that this coming week might be their best chance to solidify their MIAC Playoff hopes as they come down to the Cities on Wednesday evening to face Augsburg before hosting CSB this coming Saturday........The Gusties did their job this last week in taking down St. Scholastica at home this last Wednesday night before a somewhat routine dismantling of Augsburg yesterday in Minneapolis.  But this coming week might be the toughest of all for GAC - even with two home games as they host a hot Hamline team on Wednesday night before Concordia comes calling on Saturday.  

Carleton came away with a split this last week in getting a big win at St. Kate's this last Wednesday night but the Knights were unable to handle St. Scholastica at home in West Gym yesterday.  And it likely could be a repeat this coming week as the Knights will host an angry SMU team on Wednesday night before Augsburg comes down to West Gym this coming Saturday........St. Kate's desperately needed a sweep this last week to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive but the loss at home to Carleton yesterday was likely the dagger in the heart for any hopes the Wildcats had despite the win over Macalester yesterday when you consider all the teams that are ahead of them.  And the 'Cats will be fortunate to at least come away with a split this coming week with trips to St. Olaf on Wednesday evening and to Hamline this coming Saturday in the offing.

So that's how things look from my view right now.  I have to think that, at some point anyway, some of this stuff will start untangling itself but we'll just have to see.  As always, feel free to fire away with thoughts.