NIT Bracket 2012: Key Player for Each Team's Tournament Fortunes

The NIT tournament is usually headlined by under-achieving teams, but that doesn't change the fact that each team left in the tourney has their own key player that will make them NIT champions.

With six teams left in the tournament, here is one player from each school that will be key to his team's success in the NIT.

Washington Huskies: Terrence Ross

With Ross averaging 26 points per game in the NIT, it's abundantly clear the Huskies will go as far as their star will take them. 

Also, some of the Huskies' worst games this season have coincided with some of Ross' worst as well, and that further proves the Huskies' success is based on their best scorer.

Just look at their most recent win against Oregon. Ross was one of the most integral parts of the Huskies' biggest victory this season.

UMass Minutemen: Chaz Williams

The best words to describe Williams would be "the little engine that could."

At 5'9'', Williams has been terrorizing defenses all season long and has created nightmares for opposing coaches' game plans.

Williams averaged 16 points and six assists during the season. Clearly, Williams is a key part of UMass' offense being their floor general and also the team's best scorer.

There are very few players more important than a good point guard and Williams fits that bill.

Stanford Cardinal: Aaron Bright

We all know how important Chasson Randle is to this team, but it was Bright who proved to be the difference in Stanford's latest win over Illinois St.

Bright drained six three-pointers and gave a much-needed hand to Randle in leading the Cardinal to victory.

If he can continue his hot shooting, that will take pressure off the other aspects of the Stanford offense, namely Randle, and open up the paint for the Cardinal to do some work down low.

You can never have enough three-point shooting and Bright has already proved that.

Nevada Wolf Pack: Olek Czyz

Although the Wolf Pack look to run their offense through Deonte Burton, Czyz has been an inconsistent surprise this season for Nevada.

Czyz scored 24 points in the Wolf Pack's most recent victory over Bucknell and notched his sixth 20-point scoring effort of the season.

When the Wolf Pack have their offense working, they are deadly. But when Czyz can go off for the kind of contribution he did in their last game, the Wolf Pack are nearly unbeatable.

Minnesota Golden Gophers: Rodney Williams

Tubby Smith has one of the most versatile players in the Big Ten Conference in Williams and he proved that in Minnesota's most recent win over Miami (FL).

Williams scored 21 points in the effort, but his season numbers tell a tale of a guy who stuffs a stat sheet as good as anyone. He's averaging 11.7 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 in both the assist and steal categories.

His all-around game is huge for Minnesota and gives them a reliable presence in any aspect of the game offensively or defensively.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: LaRon Dendy

Although his scoring output was down in the Blue Raiders' win over Tennessee, he still contributed nine rebounds and helped propel his team to victory.

But as the team's best player, Dendy is used to putting up better all-around numbers having averaged 14.7 points per game along with 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Dendy will be the key to Middle Tennessee's success and will need to up his scoring output if he hopes to lead his team to the NIT championship.

Don't expect the Blue Raiders to be much without a great effort offensively from their best player.