NIT 2015: Schedule, Live Stream and Bracket Predictions for Friday's 2nd Round

March Madness isn't only reserved for the NCAA tournament.

The NIT featured quite a bit of unpredictable results in the first round of action, including No. 1 Colorado State surprisingly dropping to No. 8 South Dakota State in a decisive win. Well, the Jackrabbits are back in action Friday, as they are set to take on Vanderbilt in the NIT's first second-round contest.

While South Dakota State does have the makings of a Cinderella story, it faces a tough test in a Commodores team that usurped St. Mary's by 11 points in an impressive Round 1 showing. Needless to say, we're set up for some compelling college hoops on Friday.

Before these two squads take the hardwood to kick off the NIT's second round, let's take a look at the game's essential viewing information and predict which team will emerge victorious.

Friday's Schedule

Who: No. 8 South Dakota State vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt

Where: Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt) in Nashville, Tennessee

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Channel: ESPNU

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Updated Bracket: NCAA.com

Preview and Prediction

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

South Dakota State really showed what it's capable of producing during its Round 1 victory over Colorado State. All four of the team's starting guards scored double-digit points, as George Marshall led the way with a game-high 24 and the talented Deondre Parks put up 17. The end result was a team shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from downtown.

John Raoux/Associated Press/Associated Press

Despite the abundance of production from members of the team's backcourt, the Jackrabbits aren't a one-trick pony. While 6'9" forward Cody Larson only contributed six points of his own, he dominated the boards with nine rebounds on the game and helped limit Colorado State's offensive success on the inside.

That kind of well-rounded approach and team effort will win plenty of games at this time of year.

Although, if the Jackrabbits have a weakness, it's their small rotation. Without a variety of big men to produce in the paint, this team relies heavily on jumpers and shots from downtown. While South Dakota State's athletic guards can penetrate the interior and attack the basket, they struggle to get good looks against bigger opponents.

That may be an issue against Vanderbilt's lineup.

David Tulis/Associated Press

The Commodores boast a nicely sized frontcourt, featuring 6'10" center Damian Jones. The team's go-to scorer, he's an absolute force down low, using his body to shield defenders and creating open looks for himself. That was the case in Round 1 against St. Mary's, as the Gaels allowed Jones to connect on 10 of 14 attempts from the inside, leading to a team-high 21 points and adding seven rebounds.

Athletic 6'7" forward James Siakam is also a factor on the inside for the Commodores, but the length doesn't stop there, as 6'11" center Josh Henderson and 7'0" forward Luke Kornet can be huge factors off the bench.

While size is a great attribute for Vanderbilt, the team isn't without capable outside scorers. Riley LaChance has been phenomenal this season, and he continued his great run with a 17-point showing against St. Mary's. He's complemented nicely by the sharpshooting Wade Baldwin IV and a talented freshman in Jeff Roberson off the bench.

Having two well-rounded teams in action Friday will certainly be a treat for the NIT's audience. We should expect some great back-and-forth action while these teams fight for a spot in the quarterfinals. The upper hand in this contest goes to the team that has a better chance of getting it done on the interior and from the perimeter. Due to their superior size, that advantage goes to the Commodores.

Prediction: Vanderbilt 69, South Dakota State 65