NIT 2012: Washington Huskies Will Dominate Final Four at MSG

The NIT will own the spotlight as Madison Square Garden welcomes the final four teams left breathing in the exciting tournament. The Washington Huskies will be the last team dancing when it's all over. 

It all goes down on Tuesday, March 27th as Washington takes on Minnesota and fellow Pac-12 survivor Stanford goes to battle against UMass. 

It's all about reputation and not about consolation heading into Madison Square Garden's less-lauded Final Four. 

The NCAA Tournament is coming to a close just a few days from now, and that means a huge shadow will be cast over the NIT when it culminates just prior. 

When you consider the Washington Huskies and the road they took to get here, you have to consider they could very well be in a much different state had they finished off the field at the Pac-12 tournament and completed a fantastic late-seaosn push to March Madness. 

The Huskies fell short and had to lick their wounds in the opening rounds of the NIT. It is very clear what kind of mentality that makes up this version of the Huskies. 

They could have easily packed their bags and called it a season after their March Madness snub. Instead, they have decided to take it up a notch and dominate the field in the most celebrated consolation prize in hoops. 

Whether it's against Northwestern or their conference rivals Oregon Ducks, Washington has proved to be the better team with backcourt phenoms that will slice through the Final Four shortly. 

Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten make this team an exciting watch but also an unrelenting offensive force that the teams they've faced in this tournament have found impossible to stave off. 

Ross has dominated in the NIT, averaging 26.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. It would be enough if the rest of the remaining field would have to contend with Ross, but he has a backcourt star that makes it hard to close out on just one player. 

Wroten can dominate just as much as his colleague and showed as much against the Oregon Ducks when he dropped 22 points and grabbed seven boards. 

This team is playing with heart and purpose, and their complement of talent makes them the most dangerous team remaining in the NIT. 

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