NIT 2012: Minnesota Will Turn Tourney Run into 2013 Success

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are finding themselves in the 2012 NIT, and they will keep that ball rolling next season. 

That will be a nice turnaround after a rough season. Minnesota is 23-14 heading into the NIT championship game with a 23-14 record. However, most of those wins came against a weak non-conference schedule. 

Minnesota was just 6-12 in the Big Ten. This team is capable of better things than what they showed. 

They rolled through their first two games of the NIT, and took down No. 1 seed Washington in overtime. That game was especially impressive, as they showed they could thrive against a team as athletic as the Huskies. 

The most promising part of all of this is that they are doing it with youngsters. Seniors Trevor Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson III are out with injuries.  

Against Washington, the Golden Gophers started three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. And they played fantastically together. 

This is helping these young guys build chemistry and confidence. They are also learning how to be versatile. 

The Associated Press, via SI.com, offered up this revealing quote from Gophers coach Tubby Smith.

"

Roles change daily for us with so many missed practices, missed games, and it's been tough. As a coach you want to know, and as players you want to know, their roles and their responsibilities, and they're not that clearly defined because of other extenuating circumstances.

"

This team has a strong nucleus returning and that nucleus is learning how to succeed in a tournament setting. 

Last year's NIT winner, Wichita State, earned a No. 5 seed in this season's NCAA tournament. The Gophers will enjoy similar success next season.