NIT Season Tip-off 2014: Teams, Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket, TV Info

If you want to be considered one of the top teams in the country, you have to prove yourself on a big stage. In the college basketball world, there are few bigger stages than Madison Square Garden.

Gonzaga, Minnesota, St. John’s and Georgia each have different goals for the season, but all of them will come into the NIT Season Tip-Off believing they have a chance to come away with a pair of wins that will impress the NCAA tournament committee at the end of the year.

It also wouldn’t be a terrible thing for the players to enjoy a trip to New York City in the meantime.

This tournament has as much intrigue as any around the nation, so make sure to tune in to this exciting event and follow along with this guide.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV
Nov. 26	St. John's vs. Minnesota	7 p.m.	ESPNU
Nov. 26	Gonzaga vs. Georgia	9:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Nov. 28	Third-Place Game	4:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Nov. 28	Championship Game	7 p.m.	ESPN2

Games can be viewed online on ESPN3. A bracket is available courtesy of RealGM.com.

Top Player to Watch: Andre Hollins, Minnesota

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

It is becoming hard to find holes in Andre Hollins’ game.

The senior guard has the quickness and athleticism to drive to the basket and finish at the rim while also showcasing plenty of range to shoot when defenders give him space. On the other end of the court, he is a great on-ball defender who often takes on an opposing team’s best player.

Putting him on the floor next to DeAndre Mathieu gives the Gophers an experienced backcourt that will help the team throughout the year in the Big Ten. The key for Hollins is to be even more aggressive than he has been and take over games on the offensive end.

After winning the postseason NIT a year ago, this group believes it can come right back and win in MSG once again. If Minnesota does come through with a great performance this week, you can be certain Hollins will have a lot to do with it.

Most Intriguing Team: St. John’s

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

While Gonzaga is considered one of the top teams in the nation and Minnesota is expected to at least earn a spot in the NCAA tournament, not a lot is known about St. John's. The Red Storm have started the year 3-0 while showcasing some excellent defense, but they have not faced any real competition so far.

Still, the team's top players are really playing well to start the year. D'Angelo Harrison is especially turning heads while averaging 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He is a versatile player who fills up the box score almost every game and does whatever it takes to help his team win.

On the defensive end, Chris Obekpa is becoming one of the top shot-blockers in the nation and makes it incredibly difficult for opponents to score in the paint.

Head coach Steve Lavin believes this squad can earn a spot in the NCAA tournament this season, via Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News:

"

It’s been an arduous yet rewarding climb up the mountain. We knocked on the door the past two years but came up short, and it’s clear this group is maturing. If we stay injury-free and continue to incrementally develop over the course of the season, we believe the next step for our program is a run into the NCAA Tournament.

"

 A win or two in this tournament would be a great way to start off the year.

Predicted Winners: Gonzaga

Young Kwak/Associated Press

Mark Few has had a lot of talented teams achieve various levels of success at Gonzaga, but this team might be his best yet.

ESPN's Jay Bilas is impressed with what he has seen so far:

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports discussed the overall offense:

Kevin Pangos has gotten better every year of his career, and he is now one of the best point guards in the nation. Alongside of him is Gary Bell, creating an excellent backcourt that can beat just about any defenders off the ball.

With Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer bringing in experience and the ability to stretch the defense with his outside range, the Bulldogs have everything you need in a Final Four contender.

Minnesota’s backcourt could cause problems in a potential final, but Gonzaga should be able to take home the preseason NIT crown.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.