Busting Brackets
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 26
Next
Nov 23, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas-Arlington Mavericks forward Kevin Hervey (25) and Texas-Arlington Mavericks guard Erick Neal (1) during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum. Texas-Arlington Mavericks beat Memphis Tigers 68-64. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas-Arlington Mavericks forward Kevin Hervey (25) and Texas-Arlington Mavericks guard Erick Neal (1) during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum. Texas-Arlington Mavericks beat Memphis Tigers 68-64. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Sun Belt

Favorite: Texas-Arlington Mavericks

Despite winning 24 games last year, the Mavs came up short after losing leading scorer Kevin Hervey to an ACL injury. He was averaging 18.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game before going down. He leads seven returnees from last season’s nine-man rotation in their quest to claim the Sun Belt bid.

Point guard Erick Neal is a strong floor general and shooting guard Jalen Jones put up 12.7 points a night and was second in rebounding at 5.2 per night. The perimeter is pretty set with them and others.

The front court also has good contributors with Jorge Bilbao and 7’1″ JUCO transfer Link Kabadyundi. Hervey’s return is central to the team’s efforts, so UTA might steamroll the Sun Belt this year.

Dark Horse: South Alabama Jaguars

Say it with me, USA! USA! South Alabama has a perimeter attack as good as any in the Sun Belt. The key for improvement in Mobile is greater consistency and fluidity on offense. The Jaguars also need to cut down on nearly 16 turnovers an evening.

It’s good that the team has a solid senior trio consisting of Ken Williams (15.5 points), Georgi Boyanov (10.4 points) and Nick Stover (10.1 points). They are the three leading scorers who returned from last season’s 14-19 campaign.

Shaq Calhoun is in line for more after putting up 8.7 points and 2.3 rebounds, but the bench needs tons of help. Junior college transfer Dederick Lee and five freshmen will play roles for the program in Mobile, AL.

Next: Western Athletic Conference

Home/Mid Major Conferences