NIT 2012: Early Mid-Major Dominance Will Continue in NCAA Tournament

Although the NCAA Tournament is just getting started, the NIT is already down to its Sweet 16 and the results of the early games are very telling.

So far, mid-majors have gotten the better of the power conference teams.

Massachusetts beat a talented Mississippi State team.

Bucknell and Illinois State went on the road and defeated high-seeded Arizona and Ole Miss respectively.

Even Akron and Stony Brook were competitive but ultimately suffered two-point losses.

This all signifies that parity that now exists in college basketball.

Even if the smaller schools are not on television as often, many small conference schools produce better teams than ones from the Pac-12 and SEC.

Teams like Murray State and Wichita State have been showing their abilities all season long, but on Selection Sunday they are relegated to lower seeds due to a perceived weak schedule.

If the NIT is any indication, the teams that they spent the season beating are better than previously anticipated.

In each of the past few years, a team from a small conference goes on a big run in the NCAA Tournament. From Gonzaga to George Mason to Butler to VCU, mid-majors are proving that they are as good as the big boys.

This year will be no different.

Even though every one of the top four seeds is from a power conference, the Sweet 16 and possibly the Elite Eight will feature a relatively unknown.

Sooner or later, the average fan will recognize how good the rest of the nation can be.