NIT 2012 Bracket: Safe Bets for Every Remaining Game

The final four teams are now in New York and set to duke it out in Madison Square Garden. Washington remains the only No. 1 seed. They will play Minnesota who struggled in the Big Ten this year. Stanford and UMass will duke it out in the other semifinal. What are the safe bets going into each semifinal? Let's take a look. 

Stanford vs UMass

Massachusetts has been led by 5'9'' point guard Chaz Williams. The Brooklyn native has averaged 22.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game in the tournament. The Minutemen are on a roll after beating Mississippi State in double-overtime and snapping Drexel's 18-game home winning streak overcoming a 17-point deficit in the second half. 

Stanford will be ready for Williams. They go 11 deep and put forth a stingy defense that gives up 65.7 points per game. The Cardinals sputtered out the gate this season, but had a late push that they are still riding right now. 

UMass has the star power but Stanford has the edge in this game. Their front line, led by Andrew Zimmerman and Dwight Powell, has been playing well as of late and will prove to be fits for UMass. Stanford point guard Chasson Randle is only a freshman but has scored in double digits 25 times this season. He will prove to be the equalizer and the deep rotation from Stanford will reign supreme in this game. 

Minnesota vs Washington

Many felt Washington should have been in the NCAA Tournament. The team had a 24-10 record including 14-4 in the Pac-12. They might have proven they belonged there with their performances in the NIT. They have beaten their three opponents by a combined 35 points. 

Minnesota struggled through the mid part of their Big Ten season losing six straight at one point. They are now playing better after being fueled by Rodney Williams, who has has shot over 65 percent from the field during the tournament. One question mark for the team going forward is the status of Ralph Sampson III. If the big man is not able to go, it could pose problems against Washington's big front line. 

Washington is the best team in the tournament, and they have proved it each game. This will be no different. Minnesota just does not have the size down low or the scoring to keep up with the Huskies. Washington will wear down the Gophers over the course of the game and probably blow them out. 

Expect a Washington vs Stanford final. That's two West Coast teams battling it out in the famous East Coast arena. Remember these two teams know each other well, so look for an entertaining and hard fought final.