Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: The mid-major favorites and darkhorses

By Doug Winkey

Mar 20, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; View of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders shirts worn during warm-ups prior to the game in the second round against the Syracuse Orange of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; View of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders shirts worn during warm-ups prior to the game in the second round against the Syracuse Orange of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Harvard Crimson bench reacts against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half of a game in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Harvard Crimson bench reacts against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half of a game in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Ivy League

Favorite: Harvard Crimson

Harvard’s Big Dance hiatus will likely only last one year as they are absolutely loaded this season. Not only do they have leading big Zena Edosomwan, but they also get point guard Siyani Chambers back from ACL rehab. The senior guard averaged 9.9 points and 4.3 assists in his junior year, and his leadership will be key in getting the Crimson back to national prominence.

Head coach Tommy Amaker has also brought a recruiting class filled to the brim with talent. Seven new faces, including four of the 2016 ESPN top 100, are in Cambridge, MA this year. Expectations are sky high for Harvard in 2016-17 and I don’t see much standing in their way.

Dark Horse: Dartmouth Big Green

Dartmouth has not been to March Madness in a very long time; not since the late 1950s has the nation watched the Big Green reach college basketball’s biggest tournament. Harvard is clearly the team to beat, but UD might finally have the tools to at least threaten for third place.

Sophomore Evan Boudreaux and junior Miles Wright, the two previous Ivy League Rookie of the Year winners, headline a solid group for new coach David McLaughlin. There aren’t many position holes, but more production through the whole rotation is what will determine just how successful Dartmouth can be.

Next: MAAC

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