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 7, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Idaho Vandals forward Nahshon George (24) and guard Victor Sanders (11) battle with USC Trojans forward Chimezie Metu (4) for position under the basket in the first half of the game at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Idaho Vandals forward Nahshon George (24) and guard Victor Sanders (11) battle with USC Trojans forward Chimezie Metu (4) for position under the basket in the first half of the game at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Big Sky

Favorite: Idaho Vandals

Last year’s dominant teams, Montana and Weber State, both lost some big names this summer. The door is open for the Vandals to make their first conference title run since 1990. They went 12-6 to finish third in a crowded Big Sky Conference in 2015-16

Keying the Vandal attack are two stellar guards in Victor Sanders and Perrion Callandret. Those two combined for nearly 30 points and eight rebounds a night last year. Both were also solid distance shooters at 41 percent and 34 percent, respectively. Several other key pieces are back as well.

Idaho is a dangerous group this season with a wealth of experience.

Dark Horse: North Dakota Fighting Hawks

Despite having a much lamer nickname compared to the Fighting Sioux moniker, UND might surprise some folks out west. They went 10-8 to finish sixth in conference play last year.

Like Idaho, North Dakota returned a large portion of its scoring.

Senior guard Quinton Hooker returned as a triple-double threat. The 6’0″ Minnesota native averaged 20.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals last year, while also shooting 49 percent from the field. This includes a dangerous 38 percent from deep. He is a strong candidate for Big Sky POY.

Next: Big South

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