Week 8 of MIAA play

[Btech#3]

The conference is starting to separate with UCO and NWMS sitting atop the standings with only 1 loss in conference. Emporia State and Fort Hays are two games back with 3 losses and then Washburn and Missouri Southern are next with 4 losses. It seems like those 6 are the best 6 teams in the conference. Rogers St. and MO West appear to be the next two best as they try to claw their way into the top 6 in the conference. Huge games this week for UCO. They go on the road to play Emporia State and Washburn. If they get thru these two games unscathed, then they only have one game left against the top 6 in the conference and that's a home tilt against MO Southern. Fort Hays State goes on the road this week to play MO Western and against their rival UNK. Those are the most intriguing games of the week. In analyzing the schedules of the top 6. FHSU has the easiest schedule left with only 2 games left against the top 6 but they have to go on the road in 7 of their remaining 11 games. UCO has the next most favorable schedule with only 3 of their last 10 against the top 6 with 5 at home and 5 on the road. Washburn and Emporia State both have 4 games left against the top 6 but Emporia has the edge with 6 at home and Washburn only has 4 at home. MO Southern also has 4 of their remaining 12 games against the top 6 but 7 are on the road. NWMS has the toughest schedule left with 6 of their remaining 11 against the top 6 and they have 6 road games as well. It should be an interesting last 5 weeks of the season as this thing builds to what is going to be a great MIAA tourney in KC.

[TigerAlum]

FHSU with 7 road games is tough, on the road is never easy plus makes for some long and tiring weeks. Got the first road W yesterday, 3 more on the road before another home game. Yesterday was also 3rd game in 5 days.

[Thepeman]

Actually NW only has 5 road games and 6 home games left. Not the other way around.

[Btech#3]

You are right Thepeman. My mistake.

[mosofan1]

NW has the easiest schedule because they don't have to play NW. MOSO still has to play NW twice.

[Btech#3]

Emporia State still has to play NWMS twice as well. Big one tomorrow night at Washburn as UCO comes to town.

[Alfred33]

Emporia State still has to play NWMS twice as well. Big one tomorrow night at Washburn as UCO comes to town.

Go Bods! That felt weird... ;)

[NWFanatic]

[Btech#3]

That's okay Alfred33, I'm a little weird too. This game is especially significant due to UCO's remaining schedule. After the Washburn game, they are at home against UNK & FHSU then have to go to Newman, Rogers and NSU and finish at home against UCM & MSSU. There are few testy games left after the Washburn game but clearly I think this is their toughest game left. If the Bronchos get past Washburn then running the table is a strong possibility. FHSU & MSSU are both good teams but UCO has them at home. Rogers might be the next toughest game left on their schedule after the Bods cuz it is on the road. NWMS on the other hand still has Emporia twice, MSSU twice and Washburn & FHSU at home. I believe NWMS is the better of the two but the Bearcats have a "bear" of a schedule left. No pun intended. I think Washburn is fighting for their NCAA lives. A win over UCO would be huge for them and gives them a good chance of ending up in the top 3 in the conference.

[NWFanatic]

Many thanks to the Ichabods

[Btech#3]

Still a long way to go but enjoy the drivers seat. We are now in the backseat. 2 months ago we were walking. Now we are at least in the car.

[northwest missouri state]

good grief central missouri is a disaster

[Randy]

good grief central missouri is a disaster

How the Mules beat Southern by 30 in Joplin back in December is beyond me. It's the only win the Mules have over a D2 team with a winning record against D2 opponents.

[Btech#3]

Fort Hays State getting two road wins and staying in 3rd place and MO Southern getting two home wins and staying with the leaders was huge this week. However, the biggest win was Washburn beating UCO by 10 at home after UCO earned a hard fought win at Emporia State. NWMS is in the drivers seat but they have some tough games left. The Bearcats have Emporia St twice, MO Southern twice, and Washburn and Fort Hays State at home. 6 of their last 9 are against the top of the league. UCO has just Fort Hays and MO Southern at home against the top 6 in the league. If anyone can do it, it is NWMS but it will be interesting to see if they can run the table and win the conference again.