NIT 2012 Bracket Info and Preview

The 32-team 2012 NIT field was announced on Sunday to little fanfare. It’s a consolation prize to be selected to this event, especially for a bubble team getting a top seed here instead of a place in the Big Dance.

However, it’s still an exciting competition with some talented programs vying to end their season on a positive note in Madison Square Garden on March 29.

Let’s take a look at the bracket and some teams to watch for this year’s NIT.

Region 1

No. 1 Washington vs. No. 8 UT-Arlington

No. 4 Northwestern vs. No. 5 Akron

No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 6 LSU

No. 2 Dayton vs. No. 7 Iowa

Region 2

No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 8 Savannah State

No. 4 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 5 Marshall

No. 3 La Salle vs. No. 6 Minnesota

No. 2 Miami vs. No. 7 Valparaiso

Region 3

No. 1 Seton Hall vs. No. 8 Stony Brook

No. 4 Mississippi State vs. No. 5 UMass

No. 3 Drexel vs. No. 6 Central Florida

No. 2 Saint Joseph's vs. No. 7 UNI

Region 4

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 8 Bucknell

No. 4 Oral Roberts vs. No. 5 Nevada

No. 3 Stanford vs. No. 6 Cleveland State

No. 2 Ole Miss vs. No. 7 Illinois State

Printable bracket can be found here, courtesy of the official NIT website.

Teams to Watch

Seton Hall

The Pirates were hoping to go dancing this March, but they’ll still have a chance to tango in the NIT.

It’s wild that nine teams from the Big East were selected to the NCAA tournament, but the committee must have felt No. 10 Seton Hall had too many flaws to be chosen.

The NIT gladly snatched them up and made them a No. 1 seed and a favorite to win it all.

Miami (FL)

The Hurricanes were a polarizing team in 2011-12. They had wins over top teams like Florida State and Duke but also suffered a number of ugly losses.

Had they picked up another win or two along the way, they would probably be a low seed in the NCAA tournament, but they are taking their 19-12 record into the NIT.

They are a force to be reckoned with and have a chance to show the world they were snubbed over these next few games.

Saint Joseph’s

St. Joe’s was well on their way to March Madness before falling to St. Bonaventure in the A-10 tournament.

The Hawks will have to prove to themselves and the world they are better than that when they face off against UNI to open the 2012 NIT.

Expect them to be relentless and angry right out of the gates.

Prediction

The talent level is extremely top-heavy in this event. The best seeds are the best teams, and there should be a number of them advancing far into the tournament.

However, a March basketball competition would not be complete without a Cinderella story, which is why one low seed will sneak into Madison Square Garden for the semifinals.

Semifinals

No. 5 Akron vs. No. 1 Tennessee

No. 1 Seton Hall vs. No. 2 St. Joseph’s

Finals

No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Seton Hall

Winner

No. 1 Seton Hall