NIT 2015 Bracket: Breaking Down Entire Field of 32

Not every team can go dancing in March; some have to settle for a chance to finish their season in Madison Square Garden.

The National Invitation Tournament doesn't have anywhere near the same prestige that the NCAA tournament does, yet for the 32 schools that received bids to this event, it's no less important. While making the NIT isn't likely to have been among the top goals of any team, it does still provide the opportunity for senior-laden teams to finish on a high note or for up-and-coming programs to build toward the future.

A strong performance in the NIT can often serve as a springboard toward bigger and better things the following season. SMU reached last year's NIT final and parlayed that into the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a No. 6 seed in this season's NCAA tourney, while 2013 NIT winner Baylor reached the Sweet 16 in 2014.

The 2015 NIT bracket was released Sunday, with games set to begin on Tuesday. The semifinals and championship are set for March 31 and April 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Scroll through to see which teams made the field and what their chances are of picking up a few more wins or possibly a national title.

The No. 8 Seeds

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Bucknell (19-14, 13-5 Patriot)

The Bison fell to Lafayette in the Patriot League final, but because they were regular-season champs they earned an automatic NIT bid. Junior guard Chris Hass led the team in scoring at 16 points per game, and he's scored 20-plus points nine times this season, including 32 in a November loss to Villanova. 

Outlook: It's not a far trip to Temple for its first-round game, but Bucknell will be hard-pressed to win that one.

Charleston Southern (19-11, 13-5 Big South)

The Buccaneers tied for the regular-season title with High Point but then was upset by ninth-seeded Longwood in the conference tourney quarterfinals. This prevented one of the nation's most prolific three-point shooters, 5'8" senior guard Saah Nimley, from ending his career with an NCAA tourney appearance.

Outlook: Charleston Southern opened the season with an overtime win at Ole Miss, so it wouldn't be a shock to see it win at Old Dominion.

St. Francis Brooklyn (23-11, 15-3 Northeast)

One of five longtime Division I programs never to make the NCAA tourney, the Terriers had their best shot yet this season as NEC regular-season champs who got to host the conference tourney title game. But they fell to Robert Morris and had to settle for their first postseason invitation of any kind since 1963.

Outlook: St. Francis went 9-6 on the road this season, but the trip to Richmond will be their toughest since opening (and losing by 21) at Georgetown.

South Dakota State (23-10, 12-4 Summit)

The Jackrabbits were co-league champs but fell to rival North Dakota State by one point in the Summit title game, missing out on their third NCAA tourney appearance in four seasons. SDSU averages 73 points per game and has three main scorers all contributing at least 13 points per night.

Outlook: A matchup with Colorado State isn't favorable, and it already has lost in that state against league foe Denver.

The No. 7 Seeds

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Montana (20-12, 14-4 Big Sky)

The Grizzlies had a great year under first-year coach Travis DeCuire, sharing the regular-season title with Eastern Washington and reaching the Big Sky finals before falling to the Eagles. Senior guard Jordan Gregory averaged 16.9 points per game, while junior forward Martin Breunig averaged 16.8 points.

Outlook: Montana has a long trip to Texas A&M, and they didn't fare well on the road against power-conference teams this year.

North Carolina Central (15-7, 16-0 MEAC)

The Eagles had their 35-game conference win streak snapped in the MEAC tournament semifinals by Delaware State, preventing a second straight NCAA tourney bid. NC Central shoots 48.6 percent as a team, 10th-best in Division I.

Outlook: NC Central opens at Miami (Florida) and has the kind of draw to make the NIT quarterfinals.

UC Davis (25-6, 14-2 Big West)

The Aggies won nine games a year ago and looked headed for their first-ever NCAA appearance before falling to UC-Irvine in the conference tourney semifinals. Senior guard Corey Hawkins led the nation in three-point shooting percentage, at 49 percent, while averaging 20.4 points per game.

Outlook: A trip up the coast to Stanford is winnable, but UC Davis struggles when Hawkins doesn't score.

William & Mary (20-12, 12-6 Colonial)

Part of a four-way tie for first in its league, the Tribe reached the tournament finals against Northeastern. Had they won, it would have been their first-ever NCAA tourney appearance in 50-plus seasons at the Division I level.

Outlook: William & Mary lost badly at Florida and North Carolina this season, but it could have a better shot at Tulsa.

The No. 6 Seeds

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Alabama (18-14, 8-10 SEC)

The Crimson Tide tied for eighth in the SEC and didn't win a game in the conference tournament, a performance that led to the school parting ways with coach Anthony Grant on Sunday. The school has yet to say who will serve as interim coach for the NIT run.

Outlook: Despite being a No. 6 seed, Alabama gets to host Illinois, which could be just the edge it needs to win that opening game.

Central Michigan (23-8, 12-6 Mid-American)

The Chippewas scored 84 points in the conference title game, but that wasn't enough to beat Buffalo, preventing them from earning their first NCAA trip since 2003. CMU went 10-21 a year ago, improving behind an uptempo offense that averaged more than 78 points per game this season.

Outlook: CMU won at Northwestern and swept MAC qualifier Buffalo, and they've got the horses to take down Louisiana Tech and make a run.

Iona (26-8, 17-3 MAAC)

The Gaels lost to Manhattan in the conference final, preventing the prolific tandem of senior forward David Laury (19.6 points, 9.5 rebounds per game) and junior guard A.J. English (19.9 PPG) from shining on the bigger stage.

Outlook: Iona can score with anyone, hitting 126 in one game this year, and are talented enough to win a game or two.

UTEP (22-10, 13-5 Conference USA)

The Miners tied for second during the regular season and fell in the C-USA semifinals, only their third loss since mid-January. Vince Hunter, a 6'8" sophomore forward, is one of the most underrated post men in the country at 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Outlook: UTEP nearly beat Arizona in December and has wins over NCAA entrants New Mexico State, UAB and Xavier but will be hard-pressed to get past first-round opponent Murray State.

The No. 5 Seeds

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Arizona State (17-15, 9-9 Pac-12)

The Sun Devils tied for fifth in the regular season and then were upset by 12th-seeded USC in the quarterfinals, falling to 2-12 away from home. ASU has no player averaging more than 12 points per game but has six that score at least seven per game.

Outlook: ASU is one of three teams to beat Arizona this year, but it is a completely different team when not playing in Tempe.

George Washington (21-12, 10-8 Atlantic 10)

The Colonials reached the NCAA tournament last season as a No. 9 seed but couldn't make it back-to-back trips after tying for sixth place in the A-10 and then losing in the conference tourney quarterfinals. GW held opponents to only 61.4 points per game.

Outlook: GW beat Wichita State in Hawaii and Dayton at home this year, so it has a great chance to knock off Pittsburgh on the road and potentially move further.

Green Bay (24-8, 12-4 Horizon)

The Phoenix lost to Valparaiso in the conference final, robbing the NCAA tournament of having a dynamic scorer in the form of Green Bay senior Keifer Sykes. The 6'0" guard averaged 18.8 points this season and has scored 2,085 points in his career.

Outlook: Green Bay has a win at Miami (Florida) on its resume, but the Phoenix have a tough opening trip to Illinois State.

Vanderbilt (19-13, 9-9 SEC)

The Commodores finished seventh in the SEC, finishing above .500 for the first time in three years. Though he plays less than 24 minutes per game, 6'7" senior forward James Siakam ranked 16th in Division I in offensive rebound percentage, per SportsReference.com.

Outlook: Vandy had won five straight before losing to rival Tennessee in the SEC tournament, but they have to fly to California for a late Wednesday game.

The No. 4 Seeds

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Connecticut (20-14, 10-8 American)

The Huskies are the second team to go from winning the NCAA title one season to being in the NIT in the past three years, following Kentucky (2012 champion, 2013 NIT entrant). UConn struggled all year long, then went on a run during the AAC tournament before falling to SMU in Sunday's title game.

Outlook: Senior guard Ryan Boatright deserves a few more games, so assuming UConn is motivated for a lesser tournament, this is a Final Four-potential team.

Illinois State (21-12, 11-7 Missouri Valley)

The Redbirds nearly stole an NCAA bid, upsetting Wichita State in the MVC semifinals and then jumping out to a big lead on Northern Iowa before falling in the title game. Center Reggie Lynch, a 6'10" sophomore, averages 2.7 blocks per game and swats a Division I-best 14.7 percent of shots when he's on the court, per SportsReference.com.

Outlook: Illinois State could lose in the first round (to Green Bay) or contend for the semifinals, depending on whether its first- or second-half MVC title-game team shows up.

Pittsburgh (19-14, 8-10 ACC)

The Panthers missed the NCAA tournament for just the second time in coach Jamie Dixon's 12 seasons, and they take a four-game losing streak into the NIT. Five Pitt players average at least eight points per game, but no one averages more than 13.8.

Outlook: Pitt seems to have given up a few weeks ago, so it's unlikely that playing in the NIT will prompt a change in motivation.

Saint Mary's (21-9, 13-5 West Coast)

Normally an NCAA contender most years, the Gaels massively underachieved this season, tying for second place in the WCC and then getting upset in the tournament quarterfinals. Brad Waldow is a great big man, and the 6'9" senior had a career year with 19.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Outlook: Hosting a team that has to travel far gives Saint Mary's an advantage in its first game, but that might be its ceiling.

The No. 3 Seeds

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Illinois (19-13, 9-9 Big Ten)

The Fighting Illini looked to be solidly into the NCAA tournament before fading down the stretch with five losses in their last seven games, including to Michigan in the second round of the Big Ten tourney. Senior guard Rayvonte Rice missed nine games because of injury but scored 20 or more in three of his last four outings.

Outlook: Construction on Illinois' arena forces it to play at Alabama, and it went 2-8 on the road this season.

Louisiana Tech (25-8, 15-3 Conference USA)

The Bulldogs won the C-USA regular-season title but was upset by automatic-bid winner UAB in the tournament semifinals, their third straight season coming up short and having to settle for the NIT. Senior guard Kenneth "Speedy" Smith averaged 7.3 assists per game, fifth-best in Division I.

Outlook: Tech had close road losses at North Carolina State, Syracuse and Temple and brings back much of the team that reached last year's NIT quarterfinals.

Murray State (27-5, 16-0 Ohio Valley)

The Racers had a 25-game win streak snapped by Belmont in the OVC title game, and because of their weak strength of schedule didn't have a shot at an at-large bid. Sophomore guard Cameron Payne is one of the top mid-major players in the country, averaging 20.3 points along with 5.8 assists per game.

Outlook: Murray State was good enough to be a Cinderella team in the NCAA field, and in the NIT it could make the Final Four.

Rhode Island (22-9, 13-5 Atlantic 10)

The Rams tied for second in the A-10, a huge improvement from coach Dan Hurley's previous two seasons with the program. Sophomore forward Hassan Martin averages 11.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.

Outlook: Rhode Island nearly made the A-10 final and had some strong wins during the season, but they'll struggle to beat Iona in the first round.

The No. 2 Seeds

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Miami, Florida (21-12, 10-8 ACC)

The Hurricanes won at Duke yet lost at home to Eastern Kentucky and Georgia Tech, the kind of inconsistent results that kept them from reaching the NCAA tournament. Miami rode the play of transfers Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan, while junior center Tonye Jekiri developed into a top-notch rebounder with 10.2 boards per game.

Outlook: Miami can beat anyone but can also lose to anyone. A trip to New York City or a first-round exit are both equally possible.

Stanford (19-13, 9-9 Pac-12)

A year after reaching the Sweet 16, the Cardinal struggled defensively while senior guard Chasson Randle put up lots of points but needed far too many shots to get that production. A 3-6 finish to the year ensured Stanford would miss the NCAA field for the sixth time in the last seven years.

Outlook: Randle, who averages 18.9 points per game, shoots only 39.2 percent. With that being their best scorer, the Cardinal will not likely go far.

Texas A&M (20-11, 11-7 SEC)

The Aggies were on a lot of experts' lists of schools that were deserving of an NCAA bid, but the lack of quality victories and a 1-4 finish kept that happening. A&M overachieved much of the season, a team expected to be a year away from competing, and it could look to the NIT as a good step toward next season.

Outlook: A&M has a big recruiting class coming in, but the group that's here now is still capable of winning a game or two in the NIT.

Tulsa (22-10, 14-4 American)

The Golden Hurricane led the conference for much of the season, making up for a woeful nonconference schedule that included a loss to a Division II school. That lack of notable victories kept them from making back-to-back NCAA appearances after winning the Conference USA automatic bid in 2014.

Outlook: Tulsa can win a game or two, but also could fall in the first round.

The No. 1 Seeds

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Colorado State (27-6, 13-5 Mountain West)

The Rams had more wins than either of their teams that made the NCAA tournament in 2012 and 2013, but the lack of a quality road win kept them out of the field after they lost to San Diego State in the MWC semifinals. Senior forward J.J. Avila plays much bigger than his 6'7" frame, averaging 16.6 points with 7.3 rebounds.

Outlook: With the potential for three games in Fort Collins, where Colorado State was 15-1 this season, look for a run to the Final Four to be very possible.

Old Dominion (24-7, 13-5 Conference USA)

The Monarchs played a tough non-league schedule and fared well, but six losses to C-USA teams (including Middle Tennessee early in the conference tournament) spelled their doom. Junior guard Trey Freeman, a transfer from Campbell, sparked an otherwise mediocre offense with 17.5 points per game.

Outlook: If ODU can tap into its early-season form it has a shot, but that hasn't been there much since December.

Richmond (19-13, 12-6 Atlantic 10)

The Spiders beat rival VCU twice this season and got hot down the stretch with six straight wins but then were upended in their first A-10 tournament game (by VCU). Senior Kendall Anthony, a 5'8" guard, averages 16.6 points per game.

Outlook: Richmond was 14-1 at home, so expect it to at least make the quarterfinals.

Temple (23-10, 13-5 American)

A blowout win over Kansas in December wasn't enough to get the Owls into the NCAA tournament field, as they tied for third in the weak AAC and lost in the tournament semifinals. Senior guard Will Cummings has struggled with his shooting this year, but he can still light it up from time to time.

Outlook: Temple has a light draw until the quarterfinals but might not be able to go further without some luck. 

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.