The full 32-team 2012 NIT Bracket is set, now that the field for the NCAA Tournament has been picked. The UMass Minutemen landed a 5-seed after going 22-11 this season. They missed out on an automatic tournament bid, losing to St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament semifinals.
The Minutemen will face the 4-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first round of the NIT. A win would potentially set up second-round matchup with the 1-seed Seton Hall Pirates.
The tournament's other 1-seeds include the Washington Huskies, Arizona Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers. The Drexel Dragons, considered one of the biggest snubs from this year's pool of bubble teams, landed the No. 3 seed in the same side of the bracket as the Minutemen. Ole Miss landed the No. 2 seed.
You can check out the full 2012 NIT Tournament field here.
For more on the impending March Madness season, check out SB Nation's college hoops news hub. Stay tuned to our StoryStream for more updates from the region.