NIT Bracket 2013: Top Seeds Likely to Have an Early Exits in Tournament

The National Invitation Tournament is for the teams that just missed a bid to the NCAA tournament. For many squads, this is not a great consolation prize.

This event is great for up-and-coming programs to get some extra experience before heading into the offseason. A good showing could lead to a breakout year the next season.

However, many veteran clubs simply look at this bracket as another reminder of a disappointing year. These teams tend to give less than their best efforts and drop out earlier than anticipated. 

While anything can happen in this 32-team event, here are the top seeds most likely to lose early.

Printable bracket can be found here, courtesy of the official NIT website.

Kentucky

Toward the end of the season, Kentucky had a hard time bringing a consistent approach to every game. While a win over Florida was impressive, the same cannot be said for losses to Arkansas, Georgia or Vanderbilt.

Amazingly, those were the games that counted for something.

The Wildcats now must refocus their efforts on a meaningless tournament while most of the roster is thinking about nothing but their NBA future. 

To make matters worse, the top overall seed is forced to play its opening round game on the road at Robert Morris due to a scheduling conflict at Rupp Arena. Kentucky has lost its last five games away from home, and it is very likely to become six by the time this one is over.

Massachusetts

The first time playing in the NIT, a team will feel genuine excitement about competing for something. That is what happened when Massachusetts had a solid run to the semifinals of the 2012 tournament.

However, there was a higher expectation this year and, in turn, a bigger disappointment about missing out on the Big Dance.

This time around, the upperclassmen are unlikely to provide much fight as they simply look ahead to the offseason.

Even if UMass did give its best effort, the bracket is not an easy one. Stony Brook has a lot of talent and would have challenged for a win in the NCAA tournament if it had won the America East tournament. 

After that, the Minutemen would get the winner of Iowa and Indiana State, two teams that beat good opponents all year long. The Hawkeyes even finished in sixth place in arguably the toughest conference in America: the Big Ten.

A repeat trip to Madison Square Garden is unlikely for Massachusetts. 

Virginia

While you can argue that Virginia scores fewer points because of its slower pace, it is clear that the Cavaliers have struggled offensively in recent games.

Only once in the last four games did they top 60 points in a game, and they only hit 61 points against Maryland because the game went into overtime. In three of those games, Virginia shot under 40 percent from the floor and 25 percent or less from three-point range.

Even with good wins over Duke and Maryland in recent weeks, Virginia still struggled with closing out games. Dropping winnable contests to Florida State and Boston College caused the Cavaliers to miss the tournament.

In the first round, they will have to face Norfolk State, which is familiar with taking down major-conference schools. This is the same squad that beat Missouri in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament.

The Spartans went 16-0 in the MEAC during the regular season but fell to Bethune-Cookman in the conference tournament. Expect them to take out their anger on Virginia and win against the inconsistent top seed.

For a full printable NCAA tournament bracket, click here. Also, follow along Bleacher Report's live bracket. Make your picks for the 2013 NCAA tournament here with the Bracket Challenge Game.

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