2014 NIT Gambling Online
With March Madness officially upon us following the excitement of Selection Sunday, the NCAA Tournament is earning all the recognition among both avid and casual fans. [ad-4468020]
It’s no surprise that the NIT is an afterthought in the minds of most casual admirers, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about it altogether, as there are a handful of teams looking to put on a show en route to a championship.
Southern Methodist
In the eyes of many, SMU was snubbed from a shot at the NCAA Tournament. As a result, they are considered one of the favorites to take home an NIT championship.
On the year, the Mustangs averaged 71.4 points per outing. That number was only good enough for 166th in the nation, but it’s their defense that made up the difference.
In 32 games, SMU gave up just 62.3 points per night. That puts them in the top 20 in that particular category, and it’s exactly why they’ll be a nuisance for anyone they face come tournament time.
St. John’s
St. John’s enters this tournament with one thing that means a lot this time of year: momentum.
[ad-6571516]
To close out the year, St. John’s won eight of its final 11 contests. A big reasons for that is D’Angel Harrison, who could very well be the most dynamic player in the field of 32 teams.
The junior guard is posting 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, and he should be able to win most individual offensive battles.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Golden Gophers run a three-guard lineup involving Andre Hollings, Austin Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu that could be a matchup nightmare for some in the NIT.
Of the three guards, Mathieu is the most dangerous shooter. He knocked down 44.4 percent of his long-range attempts throughout the 2013-14 season, but the truth is that the Hollins brothers will put up far more attempts. For that reason, the guy to lock down on is Andre, as he shot 38.3 percent compared to Austin’s 32.1.
Look for Minnesota to pick up where it left off in 2012. The team went to the NIT finals that year, falling to Stanford, meaning that revenge will be on their minds.
Florida State
The Florida State Seminoles were just 9-9 in conference play this season, but looking at their overall body of work, there’s no way you can question whether or not they’ll be prepared for the NIT.
Throughout the season, the Seminoles defeated VCU 85-67, lost to Michigan by two in overtime, lost to Florida (now the overall No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament) by one on the road and took down then-No. 22 Massachusetts by five.
This is a team that is battle-tested entering the NIT, and it has incredible size, which is always a valuable asset when college basketball is involved.
Green Bay
If you’re looking for a non-No. 1 seed who could make a run at a title, Green Bay should catch your eye.
Along with SMU, Florida State and Georgetown, Green Bay was one of the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament, per SI’s Brian Hamilton. They were the best team from the Horizon League this year, and they proved it by taking down now-No. 1 Virginia back in December (they also came within three points of defeating now-No. 2 Wisconsin).
The road ahead won’t be easy for the Phoenix, as they’ll most likely have to face St. John’s in Round 2, but if they can get past the Red Storm, they’ll earn a ton of momentum in their run toward a title.
