CBI 2015: Schedule, Live Stream and Bracket Predictions for Tuesday's 1st Round

The 2015 College Basketball Invitational tips off Tuesday, with Rider taking on Loyola Chicago to determine one of the quarterfinal participants in the eighth annual postseason college basketball showcase.

One interesting stipulation to monitor in this tournament is the use of a 30-second shot clock, per GazelleGroup.com. This will quicken the pace of play and create an uptempo, entertaining brand of basketball among the fledgling programs in the 16-team field.

Just like the NCAA tournament, the CBI is a win-or-go-home scenario in each stage, with the exception being a best-of-three championship clash in the finale.

CBS Sports Network will televise the best-of-three championship series, and CBSSports.com will provide live stream coverage. Stony Brook and Mercer's first-round game on Wednesday can be viewed on WatchESPN, though.

Read on for more information on the CBI, including the complete schedule and a preview of Tuesday's action.

Note: A full CBI bracket can be found here, courtesy of GazelleGroup.com.

Date	Round	Matchup
March 17	First	Rider vs. Loyola Chicago
March 18	First	UC Santa Barbara vs. Oral Roberts
March 18	First	Vermont vs. Hofstra
March 18	First	Radford vs. Delaware State
March 18	First	Gardner-Webb vs. Colorado
March 18	First	Pepperdine vs. Seattle
March 18	First	Stony Brook vs. Mercer
March 18	First	Eastern Michigan vs. Louisiana Monroe
March 23	Quarterfinals	Rider/Loyola Chicago winner vs. UC Santa Barbara/Oral Roberts winner
March 23	Quarterfinals	Vermont/Hofstra winner vs. Radford/Delaware State winner
March 23	Quarterfinals	Gardner-Webb/Colorado winner vs. Pepperdine/Seattle winner
March 23	Quarterfinals	Stony Brook/Mercer winner vs. Eastern Michigan/Louisiana Monroe winner
March 25	Semifinals	TBD
March 25	Semifinals	TBD
March 30, April 1 and April 3	Finals	TBD

Rider vs. Loyola Chicago Preview

USA TODAY Sports

Pictured above is Loyola point guard Milton Doyle, the catalyst for a Ramblers offense that is far more proficient than that of their first-round CBI opponent.

Doyle shoots three-pointers above 40 percent, but his leadership is also evident. Stats guru Ken Pomeroy and ESPN's Mark Adams alluded to the difference Doyle's presence made when he was out with a shoulder injury earlier this season:

Junior Devon Turk can devastate defenses with his range from deep as well, and senior star Christian Thomas is Loyola's leading scorer with 11.5 points per contest.

Where Rider does have an edge is on the boards, thanks mostly to the presence of Matt Lopez down low. Lopez was the only prominent contributor who sports a consistent offensive game other than outside-shooting specialist Jimmie Taylor, and Lopez is out with a torn ACL.

But there is history for Rider to play for. As The Trentonian's Kyle Franko points out, the team is two wins shy of matching the program's highest win total ever with 23. However, the Broncs are dealing with the disappointment of an early exit from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tourney, losing to a 16-18 St. Peter's squad.

This potential hangover effect is something coach Kevin Baggett hinted at in discussing the CBI with Franko:

"

You have to have the right mindset. Some guys might still be deflated from the conference tournament, but you have to put that behind you. Whoever does that will have a chance to win or it's going to be a short (postseason). We've practiced all week with great energy and I think our guys are ready to do that.

"

If this game proves to be tight, coach Porter Moser's Ramblers figure to have the advantage, because the Broncs shoot an abysmal 60.4 percent from the charity stripe.

Especially with home-court advantage working in Loyola's favor, this opening game on the slate figures to go to the hosts. Loyola is making its first postseason appearance since 1985, per its official website, and won't be part of the one-and-done club in front of the friendly fans.

The single-elimination format, especially among this caliber of teams, makes forecasting the CBI quite difficult. However, facing superior competition in the Missouri Valley Conference can only help Loyola Chicago in its bid to win this tournament.

Since the Ramblers only lost to Northern Iowa by nine points earlier in the season and by 11 to Wichita State on the road, there's reason to believe they can go deep in the CBI. The one-two punch of Thomas and Doyle gives Loyola a strong inside-out game, and its overall prowess from beyond the arc at 39.4 percent presents a tough matchup for any impending opponent.

Prediction: Loyola Chicago 68, Rider 60