NIT 2012: 3 Teams We Wish Were in NCAA Tournament

When I watch an impressive performance from a team in the NIT, I wonder to myself, how would this team have performed in the Big Dance?

Most of these teams were left out for a reason. They had some major deficiency, and it caused them to be omitted. Either that, or they were snubbed.

Regardless, as I watch the NIT tournament this year, three teams really jump out at as teams I'd love to have seen in the NCAA tournament.

They likely have a marquee player, or style of play that would have been both exciting and effective.

Here are the three teams:

UMass

The Minutemen may have made the field with a win over St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic-10 tournament, but they lost by four to the Bonnies. The Bonnies went on to win the A-10 tournament by defeating Xavier.

With the loss, they found themselves in the NIT. They scored a thrilling double overtime victory over Mississippi State in the opening round. They then knocked off Big East foe, Seton Hall, 77-67 in the second round.

Now the Minutemen, paced by electric point guard Chaz Williams, will face Drexel in the Quarterfinals. The 5'9" Williams is averaging 24 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in the tournament.

Both of UMass' games have been on the road, as will the game against Drexel.

If they've already managed victories on the road in the NIT, it would stand to reason they could have been competitive on a neutral court in the NCAA tournament.

We'll never know, we'll just have to see how far they advance in the tournament that invited them.

Washington

The Huskies are the highest seed in the NIT, and they feature two possible first-round picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. Guard Terrance Ross is averaging 27.5 points per game on over 50 percent shooting.

Tony Wroten is a 6'5" combo board who reminds some of Tyreke Evans.

So how did this team not make the NCAA field?

The Huskies only had two games on the schedule with ranked teams, they lost them both. Having squandered those opportunities to impress the selection committee, the Huskies lost in the first round of the Pac-10 tournament as well.

These losses sealed their fate.

This team is inconsistent, but very talented. They have handled both Utah and Northwestern in the first two rounds, and it would have been great to see Ross on a major stage.

Instead, he will have to continue his NBA audition, and the team's run to a NIT title. 

Middle Tennessee State

The Blue Raiders are the nation's fourth best shooting team. They have a balanced attack, but they were also upset in the first round of their conference tournament.

LaRon Dendy has been a walking double-double in the tournament. He's averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game and the Blue Raiders are building on their 27-6 overall record.

They were a stellar 14-2 in-conference, so it seems the losses to conference opponents really burned them with the selection committee.

All that said, I'm sure they could have produced a better showing than the Virginia Cavaliers. UVA received a 10th seed, but was blown out by 26 in a second-round matchup with Florida.