NIT 2012 Bracket: Teams Who'll Use NIT as Springboard to Success

The following teams are going to use momentum and experience they gain in the NIT to fuel them to greater heights next season.

While the NIT is not where any team dreams of ending their season, it doesn't mean they can't use that as a chance to get them where they want to be next year. 

Here are three teams that will do just that. 

Washington Huskies

The Huskies are talented—far too talented to be in the NIT. They have no one but themselves to blame for that and, in the end, it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. 

This team has two young studs in freshman Tony Wroten and sophomore Terrence Ross. Both players are widely regarded as first-round talents—like in this mock—and there is a good chance that both will bolt for the NBA.

However, with the Huskies failing big at the end of the season, and Wroten and Ross unable to keep them from failing, you have to believe their draft stock took a hit. 

This will lead to at least one of them returning, and they will be returning to a Huskies team ready to make waves next season. 

This team is young across the board, and until they lost their final two games prior to the NIT, they had won 10-of-11. This team is on the upswing, and they will keep that going. 

St. John's Red Storm

The Red Storm struggled through a lackluster season and finished 13-19. However, they are certainly not without talent. And that talent is young.

Freshman D'Angelo Harrison was their leading scorer at 16.8 points per game. Harrison is the type of player you can build a winning program around. He can score from anywhere on the floor, and he isn't afraid to pass the ball. 

He isn't alone either. Their second leading scorer is freshman swingman Moe Harkless. Harkless is an explosive force on offense and defense. He can score (15.3 points a game), rebound (8.6 a game) and block (1.4 a game). 

This is a dynamic duo, and with a little tournament experience under their belt they will be ready to take things to the next level. 

Tennessee Volunteers 

The Volunteers blew it with a loss in their first game of the SEC tournament, but they were really hitting their stride before then. 

They won nine of their last 11 regular-season games, and they did that with a young nucleus. Leading scorer Trae Golden is just a sophomore. He is a talented point guard who really matured this season. 

He will be a force next season. And he will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Not one of the Volunteers' four leading scorers is a senior this season. 

This team learned how to win down the stretch, and with a strong run in the NIT they will learn to come together in a tournament setting. Look out for the Volunteers next year.