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GCU Lopes guard Tyon Grant-Foster (7). Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

NCAAB Bracket Watch: Mid-majors to keep an eye on

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated 2/22/24

March Madness is still a month away, but it's never too early to start prepping for the greatest betting tournament in all of sports. As we approach the home stretch of the college basketball regular season, let's take a look at a few dangerous mid-major teams that have their sights set on busting brackets this March.

Grand Canyon Lopes

Grand Canyon made the NCAA Tournament as a 15 seed in 2021 and a 14 seed last season, but this is the best team Bryce Drew (a famous bracket buster himself with Valparaiso) has ever had.

The Lopes are 24-2 overall and 14-1 in the WAC, and they haven't just beaten up on bad teams all year. In the non-conference, Grand Canyon beat No. 19 San Diego State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech and San Francisco. Its only non-conference loss came to No. 20 South Carolina.

GCU is led by former Kansas guard Tyon Grant-Foster, who averages 18.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. The secret weapon, though, is talented guard Jovan Blacksher Jr.. Blacksher was the team's leading scorer two years ago, and he recently returned from a torn ACL and is starting to ramp up his minutes.

The Lopes don't do anything at an elite level, but they're a well-rounded, well-coached team with veteran leaders all over the court. Projected as an 11 seed in Joe Lunardi's Braketology, Grand Canyon is a strong mid-major you'll want to back as an underdog in the NCAA Tournament.

Indiana State Sycamores

If you're interested in a double-digit seed that could make a run to the Sweet 16, look no further than Indiana State.

No, they don't have Larry Bird on the roster, but this is an elite shooting team with no weaknesses on the offensive end. The Sycamores rank ninth in the country in points per game, first in effective field-goal percentage, 13th in offensive efficiency, 16th in three-point shooting percentage and sixth in free-throw shooting percentage.

Four of Indiana State's five starters shoot better than 38 percent from three, so it's able to space opposing teams out and attack from any angle. Guard Isaiah Swope is the leading scorer at 17.3 points per game, but the offense typically runs through center Robbie Avila.

Avila averages 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, and he steps out and shoots better than 40 percent from three. The goggled big man acts as the Nikola Jokic of this offense, and he's a March Madness folk hero waiting to be unleashed.

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