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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Dec 23, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; New Mexico State Aggies guard Ian Baker (4) dribbles as Baylor Bears guard Al Freeman (25) defends during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; New Mexico State Aggies guard Ian Baker (4) dribbles as Baylor Bears guard Al Freeman (25) defends during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

WAC

Favorite: New Mexico State Aggies

A rare defeat in the WAC Tournament meant that NMSU didn’t represent the conference for the first time since 2011. The Aggies lost centerpiece Pascal Siakam to the pro ranks, but there is every reason to think the title will run through Las Cruces this season.

The next six scorers after Siakam returned to run through WAC play.

Point guard Ian Baker will lead the Aggies’ charge and build off his stat line of 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He also hit 69 threes at a 38 percent rate. Baker could win WAC POY by season’s end.

The biggest key is replacing Siakam, but 7’3″ Tanveer Bhullar is primed to take over at center after putting up 5.6 points and 5.2 rebounds as a sophomore. New Mexico State looks loaded enough to reclaim the WAC crown.

Dark Horse: Utah Valley Wolverines

The Wolverines are a strange team in the WAC. They lost several key players, but brought in transfers from BYU and Xavier to mix it up. Coach Mark Pope is in his second year with four transfers and two freshman.

Just two contributors returned for the Wolverines in senior point Ivory Young and sophomore guard Hayden Schenck. This means that the bulk of production could fall to Conner Toolson, a standout at Salt Lake City CC, Xavier transfer Brandon Randolph and former BYU big man Isaac Neilson. Jordan Poydras could also make some noise after several quality years at DII St. Cloud State. UVU has just enough sneaky talent to upset the conference powers late in the season.

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