NIT 2012 Final: Stanford Will Dominate Minnesota to Capture NIT Title

Stanford will dominate Minnesota in the NIT Final on Thursday night because they are very comfortable with playing talented teams under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

Stanford advanced to the final of the NIT Season Tip-Off at the beginning of the year and nearly upset Syracuse before the Orange won the game on an impressive late second-half run.

The Cardinal know how to handle the pressure of playing in a big game on the New York stage, and that experience will give them an advantage over Minnesota.

Stanford has been one of the most impressive teams throughout the NIT, and the tournament has made them stronger as a group.

Via SFGate:

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"Whenever you're invited to play in postseason, you get a chance to continue to develop your team, through practices, through just the ability to play in these one-and-done situations," Dawkins said. "I think there's something about that; it hardens you. It makes you a better team. It makes you a tighter unit."

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With the Golden Gophers having some key players battling injuries right now, the Cardinal should be able to use their superior athleticism to help them win the title.

Freshman guard Chasson Randle led the Cardinal in scoring this year and is a fantastic player. He will lead Stanford at the offensive end of the floor with his scoring and at the defensive end with his solid one-on-one defense.

Randle and the Cardinal are more healthy than the Golden Gophers and have more depth as well. Stanford will defeat Minnesota on Thursday and capture the 2012 NIT championship thanks to their experience at MSG.