NIT 2012: Top Players in Final Four

The Final Four will take place on Tuesday night.

...In the NIT Tournament. I apologize if there was any initial confusion.

The NIT is obviously not the Big Dance, but nonetheless it represents college hoops being played in a tournament setting, which makes it better than nothing. Besides, there will be some pretty good players in action on Tuesday night.

For example, keying in on the four players listed below wouldn't be such a bad idea.

4. Chasson Randle, G, Stanford

Chasson Randle had a pretty decent freshman campaign for the Cardinal, averaging 13.8 points per game and shooting nearly 44 percent from the floor.

Randle finished the season very hot, scoring in double figures in eight of Stanford's last nine regular-season games. He then helped Stanford beat Arizona State in the Pac-12 tourney by dropping 30 points.

Randle did not get off to a hot start in the NIT tourney, scoring just nine points against Cleveland State. In Stanford's last two games, however, Randle has scored a total of 34 points while shooting 6-of-11 from downtown.

Randle has had to share the spotlight with three-point sharpshooter Aaron Bright, but that shouldn't overshadow his larger body of work. The Cardinal wouldn't be here without his help.

3. Chaz Williams, G, UMass

Chaz Williams is small in stature, but he's a guy who does a little bit of everything out on the court. During the regular season, he averaged 16.4 points and 6.4 assists per game.

Williams has turned up his game since the start of the NIT tournament. He's scored at least 20 points in all three of UMass' games, topping out at 28 against Mississippi State in the first round. 

Williams has also kept the dimes coming. He has 16 assists in three games so far, and he's also pulled down 19 rebounds. 

Williams is a guy who can score in a variety of ways, including from beyond the arc. He shot better than 42 percent from distance during the regular season, and is 8-of-15 from downtown so far in the tournament. 

Basically, Williams has done everything the Minutemen could have asked.

2. Rodney Williams, F, Minnesota

Rodney Williams managed to stand out in the regular season despite having to spend much of his time going up against some tough Big Ten defenses.

It's therefore not a shock that Williams has had his way with inferior competition so far in the NIT tournament. He's scored at least 20 points in each of Minnesota's first three games, while also pulling down 14 rebounds.

Williams has been particularly good in Minnesota's last two victories. All told, he's made 17 of his last 21 field-goal attempts (ridiculous).

Nobody's been able to defend Williams in this tournament, so Washington better be ready.

1. Terrence Ross, G, Washington

Terrence Ross has owned the NIT Tournament.

After a solid regular season that saw him average 15.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, Ross has scored 23, 32 and 24 points in Washington's three NIT games. He's also pulled down 16 rebounds.

Ross is a volume scorer, but he's been pretty efficient so far in the NIT, shooting 28-of-54 overall. He could stand to be more efficient from distance, but he's been dynamite inside the arc.

Ross isn't the only scorer the Huskies can throw at teams, but he's easily been their most dangerous up to this point in the tournament.