Diamond Head Classic 2014: Teams, Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket, TV Info

Just when you thought the nonconference season was coming to an end, the Diamond Head Classic provides fans with an intriguing tournament before the start of the new year.

While most people want to be home for the holidays, these student athletes cannot really complain about a midseason trip to Hawaii. Even if they lose, relaxing on the beach singing "Mele Kalikimaka" won't be too bad.

In reality, though, every team will go into this event looking for some big wins that could end up being valuable for the resume when the NCAA tournament comes around.

Here is a breakdown of what to expect at the eight-team tournament taking place at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Date	Game	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV
Dec. 22	1	Ohio vs. George Washington	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 22	2	DePaul vs. Colorado	4:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 22	3	Loyola Marymount vs. Wichita State	11 p.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 23	4	Nebraska vs. Hawaii	1 a.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 23	5	Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 23	6	Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2	4:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 23	7	Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4	9 p.m.	ESPN2
Dec. 23	8	Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4	11:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 25	9	Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8	1:30 p.m.	ESPN3
Dec. 25	10	Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 8	4 p.m.	ESPNU
Dec. 25	11	Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7	6:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Dec. 25	12	Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7	8:30 p.m.	ESPN2

Full bracket available at ESPNEvents.com. All games can be viewed online at ESPN3.

Top Player to Watch: Terran Petteway, Nebraska

Eric Francis/Getty Images

Many were expecting Nebraska to take a big step this season, but the group has been nothing short of a disappointment so far with losses to Rhode Island, Creighton and Incarnate Word. Still, this is a quality team that could still be a contender in the Big Ten.

It all starts with Terran Petteway, who comes into the tournament averaging 19.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Bleacher Report's C.J. Moore summed up the positives and the negatives of the player's game:

The junior takes 34.8 percent of the team's shots when he is on the floor to rank among the highest in the nation, according to KenPom.com (subscription required). Not all of these are good looks, but he is certainly exciting to watch with his ability to get off a look no matter who is defending him.

While some Huskers fans want to see the wing give up some shots to Shavon Shields, Petteway is still one of the most talented players in the nation, and he is the one likely to get the team back on track.

Most Intriguing Team: Colorado

USA TODAY Sports

Like Nebraska, Colorado hasn't been living up to preseason expectations so far. The team lost winnable games to Colorado State and Georgia after getting blown out by Wyoming earlier in the year.

Head coach Tad Boyle discussed the mentality of the team as the main problem to this point, per B.G. Brooks of CUBuffs.com:

"

Every team is different. The thing about this team is we’ve got some strong personalities on this team, we’ve got some egos on this team (but) every team has them. The fact of the matter is, the expectation level coming into this season on this team was higher than any team we’ve had here. And we haven’t handled it.

"

The team is led by a trio of upperclassmen who know how to put up points. Juniors Josh Scott and Xavier Johnson get the buckets in the paint while senior Askia Booker makes shots from the outside. 

With this type of talent, the Buffaloes should be able to contend for one of the top spots in the Pac-12; however, they will need to do a better job of playing as a team, and that can start with a strong performance in Hawaii.

Predicted Winner: Wichita State

USA TODAY Sports

Although Wichita State is not going to have an undefeated regular season like last year, this is still one of the top teams in the nation.

Even when the squad doesn't play well, like the recent game against Alabama, it finds a way to win. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports explained why this says a lot about the team:

With Cleanthony Early now in the NBA, Ron Baker has taken over the role of go-to scorer and now averages 18 points per game thanks to his elite shooting ability. Darius Carter has also stepped up on the offensive end in his senior season.

Meanwhile, Fred VanVleet is the engine that makes it all run smoothly. He creates open looks for others and rarely turns the ball over, making him the ideal point guard for a national title contender.

There will be some tough matchups in this tournament, but the Shockers have the talent and the confidence to get three more wins before starting up Missouri Valley Conference play.

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