MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The National Invitation Tournament is often viewed as an anticlimactic, meaningless conclusion to the college basketball season, particularly for a power-conference program such as Minnesota that's been stuck in mediocrity.

This year, though, a spot in the 32-team field felt like a relief for the Gophers after a second consecutive 6-12 record in Big Ten play. They finished two games behind Northwestern and Iowa, the two other conference teams that made it.

"Just to get into a postseason tournament, we feel good," said junior power forward Rodney Williams, who quickly mentioned the goal of winning three games to the reach the semifinals and play at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Even more than usual this year, the players and coaches see the NIT differently than the fans or the media. With a young lineup and a pesky problem of failing to turn late leads into wins, the Gophers are counting this as bonus time toward future development.

"Every game helps. We want to be playing basketball as long as we can. There's no simulation for playing a real game," freshman center Elliott Eliason said.

Minnesota plays at La Salle (21-12) in the first round Wednesday night. Given the expectations that came with coach Tubby Smith's arrival in 2007, a spot in the NIT can't be considered progress. But last year the Gophers weren't even invited to the second-tier tournament, and they still haven't won a postseason game under Smith. So here's another chance.

"It's basketball. We love to play basketball. That's the biggest thing," said freshman point guard Andre Hollins, who has emerged as the team's most productive player.

Smith cited Hollins and his confidence first when asked what he thought was the greatest attribute the Gophers will bring to the NIT.

"We can put the ball in his hands, and he's making some good decisions," Smith said.

The loss to Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament was yet another example of this team's inability to close a game. Reverse the result in just a couple of those this year, and the Gophers could be in the NCAA tournament.

"The what-ifs have got to be out the door now. We've got a chance at another season. We've just got to go in there with the mindset that we're starting over," Williams said.

The best-case scenario for the Gophers is to win at least a game or two by a few points — to give themselves the confidence they can hang on to a second-half lead.

"It goes OK for us in practice, but you know it's different out there when the lights are on. You definitely might need one of those to happen for you to go your way for you to realize that's what you need to pull those close ones out," Williams said.

A lot of young teams have parlayed strong performances in the NIT into solid seasons the following year, and the Gophers are hoping they can be another one.

"Hopefully we can go in this tournament and make some noise and then bring that confidence with us next year and start all over again," Williams said.

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