Minnesota vs. Stanford: Projecting Stats for Top Players in NIT Championship

The 2012 NIT Championship kicks off tonight, and the top players from the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Stanford Cardinal are ready to tear it up. 

This may not be the premier college basketball tournament of March, but it's a finals matchup, so both teams will be giving it their all. 

A complete team effort will be needed to win, but do expect the elites on the team to step up and take care of business. 

That being said, here's how I project the stat lines for the top three players in the 2012 NIT Championship game. 

Rodney Williams, Minnesota 

Averaging 11 points during the year, Williams has really stepped his game up in the NIT, which is a huge reason why the Golden Gophers made it to the finals. 

Williams is averaging 21 points per game during the NIT, and he's not going to stop performing at a high level. 

Minnesota needs him to thrive for just one more game, and Williams will make sure he delivers for the Golden Gophers. 

Prediction: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks 

Chasson Randle, Stanford 

The Cardinal's best player all year has been freshman guard Chasson Randle, and even though he's young and inexperienced, he's going to step up in a major way during the finals match. 

Randle has been leading Stanford throughout the NIT, and he knows how much his team needs him tonight. 

Look for the 6'1" guard to put the team on his back and try to carry the Cardinal to a NIT Championship victory. 

Prediction: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists 

Andre Hollins, Minnesota 

Another freshman guard that has been lighting it up recently, Hollins is rivaling Williams for the best player on the Golden Gophers during the NIT. 

Hollins is playing with his older brother Austin, which definitely helps him on the court. Their chemistry together makes him play better, and his past few performances are perfect evidence of that. 

In his past two games, Hollins has scored 20 and 24 points, so look for him to step up once again and help Minnesota all night long. 

Prediction: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists