NIT 2012 Scores: Higher Seeds That Will Pull the Upset This Weekend

The NIT is one of the more underrated tournaments of the college basketball postseason, mostly because we see teams that missed out on the NCAA tournament trying to prove themselves to the selection committee.

One of those teams is Drexel University, one of the first four teams held out of the Big Dance. Also, Seton Hall was trying to prove themselves until they fell to UMass on Saturday.

There are still several deserving and determined teams left in the NIT that just missed out on the NCAA tournament, but we can still find Cinderellas in a second-tier tournament like this. We should see several of them this weekend.

No. 8 Bucknell over No. 4 Nevada

Bucknell just missed out on getting to the NCAA Championship, after getting upset by Lehigh in the Patriot League tournament championship.  

Of course, Lehigh went on to upset No. 2 Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Bucknell was just that close to possibly becoming one of those Cinderella teams.

Against Nevada, Bucknell should be able to match up well with them. Nevada has been playing terrible in the last part of their regular season, and we should see that continue against a bitter Bucknell team looking to make their impact felt in the NIT.

No. 6 Minnesota over No. 2 Miami

Minnesota had a rough end to their regular season, losing seven of their last nine games. But they defeated Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship, then took Michigan to overtime before losing.

The Golden Gophers are playing good basketball right now, and they should be in for a good matchup against an equally good Miami team on Monday.

Minnesota's Rodney Williams should be the difference in this game, as he is a clear mismatch for Miami. Look for Minnesota to roll on and continue their season.

No. 7 North Iowa over No. 3 Drexel

Drexel is a good team that just missed out on making the NCAA tournament, but Northern Iowa just seems to be on a tear as of late.

After faltering heavily in conference play this season, the Panthers knocked off No. 2 St. Joseph's by two points, showing that they are playing some of their best basketball of the season in the NIT.

They will have their sights set on taking down one of the favorites to win the NIT in Drexel on Sunday, but look for Northern Iowa to continue riding their momentum past the No. 3 seed.