NIT 2012: Underrated Players to Watch in Tournament

While the world focuses on the NCAA Tournament, there are a lot of talented players participating in this season's NIT.

The landscape of college basketball has changed over the last few years, and there are now more good teams than ever before. This has left some skillful teams out of the main tournament, and the NIT is much better than in the past.

Fans of the sport, now, have even more games in March to watch, and these players specifically should garner extra attention.

Terrence Ross, Washington

Washington has a roster full of NBA-talent with Tony Wroten and C.J. Wilcox, but Terrence Ross might be the best of the bunch.

The sophomore wing has almost doubled his output from last season and currently averages 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

His ability to get to the rim and shoot from outside will make him a first-round pick this offseason.

Herb Pope, Seton Hall

Seton Hall has not had too much team success during his collegiate career, but Herb Pope has consistently been one of the best big men in college basketball.

For the second time in three years, Pope finished the regular season averaging a double-double and can rebound as well as anyone in the nation.

Kyle Fogg, Arizona

Standing at 6'3", Kyle Fogg is a little undersized, but that has not stopped him from being one of the best shooters in the nation.

He finished the season hitting a scorching 44 percent of his shots from behind the arc, and he is starting to impress NBA scouts. According to NBAdraft.net, Fogg is projected to be a second-round pick.

Devoe Joseph, Oregon

The biggest blowout through one day of NIT play was the Oregon Ducks over LSU, and that can be mostly credited to senior guard Devoe Joseph.

He has carried the team throughout the season as the squad normally looks to him to provide points in a hurry. Although he is set to graduate, Joseph is ending his senior year strongly, scoring 20 points or more in three of his last four games.

John Shurna, Northwestern

It is impressive for any player to lead Northwestern that close to the NCAA Tournament, so there should be no shame for John Shurna in falling short.

Shurna is a great talent that has the size to play inside but can shoot as well as any guard in the country.

At 19.9 points per game, he was fifth in the nation among players from power conferences.

Dominique Morrison, Oral Roberts

Oral Roberts did not get any respect from the Selection Committee for dominating the Summit League , but senior Dominique Morrison will use the NIT to show the nation what he can do.

Morrison averaged 20 points per game this season and is one of the best pure scorers in the nation. Last month, he tallied his 2,000 career point.

Hopefully, he ends his career on a high note as the Golden Eagles try to make a run.