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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 8, 2016; Sioux Falls, SD, USA; North Dakota State Bison guard Carlin Dupree (3) leads the break against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the second half of the Summit Conference tournament at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. South Dakota State defeated North Dakota State 67-59. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Sioux Falls, SD, USA; North Dakota State Bison guard Carlin Dupree (3) leads the break against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the second half of the Summit Conference tournament at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. South Dakota State defeated North Dakota State 67-59. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Summit League

Favorite: North Dakota State Bison

NDSU might reclaim the Summit title from their brothers to the south. The Bison are one of the most experienced groups back this season. They had some uncharacteristic struggles in 2015-16 to go just 8-8 in conference play, but this squad is primed for another run towards March.

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Paul Miller and A.J. Jacobson are just two of the six contributors who returned from a team that still won 20 games and pushed rival South Dakota State to the brink in the Summit title game. Those two are versatile wings that can take over games.

Distribution is not an issue either with Khy Kabellis and Carlin Dupree combining for over 100 assists last campaign. The veteran Bison look to return to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years.

Dark Horse: IUPUI Jaguars

The Jaguars went 13-19 last season and finished fourth in the Summit League. Coach Jason Gardner has this team looking forward to a strong campaign with plenty of homegrown Hoosier State talent ready to push the league.

Kellon Thomas (Kent State) and Ron Patterson (Syracuse) are just two Indiana natives coming home from other schools expecting to play important roles. They join the inside-outside duo of Darell Combs and Matt O’Leary, who combined for 26 points, eight rebounds and four assists last season. Depth also exists in the form of T.J. Henderson, D.J. McCall, Evan Hall and Aaron Brennan. The Jags are a serious threat in the middle of the Summit League.

Next: Sun Belt

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