NIT 2012 Bracket: NCAA Tournament Snubs Ready to Make Waves

Don't look back—look forward.

As always, several worthy teams were left out of the NCAA tournament this season, much to their chagrin. But these snubs can still take solace in the fact that they are playing for something in the NIT championship.

Not only will one of these teams be able to hoist a trophy if they win the NIT but they can also rub it in the selection committee's collective face, proving they belonged in the Big Dance.

Here are three snubs I see taking it all out on their competition in the NIT.

Seton Hall (20-12, 8-10 Big East)

It's hard to say Seton Hall was a huge snub, given the Pirates lost 10 of their last 15 games, but they did play in the competitive Big East and beat ranked teams in Connecticut and Georgetown. They also played Louisville tough on March 7.

But the NIT is a new start. Seton Hall starts off with Stony Brook and will then likely advance to play another NCAA tournament snub, Drexel.

Drexel (27-6, 16-2 CAA)

Drexel won 19 of its last 20 games, but the sole loss came in the Dragons' final game of the season.

Apparently that was enough to oust them from NCAA tournament consideration.

The reality is, Drexel was incredibly consistent for much of the season, and the Dragons' 19-game winning streak was proof of that. Four starters averaged at least 10 points, and they made the most of their talent.

You can bet the Dragons are steaming and ready to set the NIT on fire—starting with UCF.

Washington (21-10, 14-4 Pac-12)

Despite winning the Pac-12 Tournament Championship Game, the Washington Huskies became the BCS era's first power conference regular-season champion to ever miss the NCAA tournament.

Nothing like being part of history.

The Huskies not only averaged 75.2 points during the season but they also averaged 40.3 rebounds (fifth in the nation). Five Huskies averaged at least 5.0 rebounds for the season, led by Aziz N'Diaye (7.6).

You would think that combination of scoring and rebounding would be hard for the selection committee to ignore, but it did, indeed, ignore it.

Washington starts off with UT-Arlington.

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