NIT 2012: Deep Stanford Squad Will Be Too Much for Hobbled Minnesota to Overcome
Stanford can go nine-deep in their rotation if necessary. Minnesota has been gutting it out without its best player, Trevor Mbakwe, for most of the season, and without starting center Ralph Sampson III for the last six games.
Minnesota's resilience has been admirable, and having played in the very strong Big Ten certainly left them battle-tested this season. But against a young and talented Stanford squad peaking at the right time, this season won't have a happy NIT ending.
Both of these teams offer balanced attacks and don't rely on one player exclusively—neither has a player who averages more than 31 minutes a game, and each utilizes players deep on the bench.
Minnesota has been carried by junior Rodney Williams in the NIT to a certain extent, however. The forward has been excellent in the tournament, averaging 21.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Stanford will counter with its young but talented backcourt of Aaron Bright (sophomore) and Chasson Randle (freshman). Bright has averaged 17.2 points and 3.7 assists in the NIT, while Randle has chipped in with 13.7 points.
And senior Josh Owens will be a tough matchup for the Golden Gophers down low. His 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in the NIT have been huge for Stanford, and ensure he'll be a handful in the paint for a Minnesota team lacking its two best frontcourt players.
Stanford is a team that will use this NIT as a springboard for a strong 2013 season. Stanford has a solid recruiting class coming in but, more importantly, have a lot of very young and talented players already on the roster.
They are a team on the rise. Minnesota is a team scrapping and fighting for its very life. There's no question they are capable of beating Stanford.
But I don't believe they will. I believe you are seeing a Stanford team that has finally discovered what it can be. That trumps a Minnesota squad that has perfected the art of surviving despite a roster devoid of two of its best players.
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