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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Feb 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs forward Malik Pope (21) and guard Trey Kell (12) celebrate during the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs forward Malik Pope (21) and guard Trey Kell (12) celebrate during the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Mountain West

Favorite: San Diego State Aztecs

It’s almost a certainty that SDSU will represent the Mountain West again. They suffered a big surprise when Fresno State took them out in last year’s conference tournament final, but plenty of talented Aztecs are back.

San Diego brought back All-Mountain West performers Trey Kell, Jeremy Hemsley and Malik Pope. The trio combined for over 30 points and 11 rebounds an evening last season and are the leaders of the roster again. Scoring support will also come from sophomore Zylan Cheatham and Missouri transfer Montaque Gill-Caesar.

Closer to the hoop the team could use Indiana transfer Max Hoetzel (when he recovers from injury) and former Washington State swat machine Valentine Izundu, who blocked 50 shots last year. The Aztecs have all the pieces to blow the Mountain West away.

Dark Horse: New Mexico Lobos

The Lobos have a solid trio of players in Elijah Brown, Sam Logwood and Tim Williams. Brown is the best scorer of the bunch, while Logwood and Williams are two talented forwards.

The key to New Mexico will be their point guard play as sophomore Jordan Hunter and freshman Jalen Harris duke things out for supremacy. If they solve that problem, things will become clearer for New Mexico.

Next: Northeast Conference

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