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

If you thought the madness of March was limited to the NCAA tournament, think again.

There are plenty of intriguing matchups in the 2015 NIT between power conference teams that would certainly draw the attention of college basketball fans during the regular season. The second round continues Saturday with a showdown between Miami and Alabama.

While that may sound better as a football game to casual fans, both squads picked up impressive victories throughout the season and are looking to take the next step toward reaching Madison Square Garden in the NIT.

With that in mind, here is a look at Saturday’s schedule and a prediction for the clash.

2015 NIT Saturday Schedule

Matchup: Alabama at Miami

Time: 11 a.m. ET

TV: ESPN 

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Preview/Prediction

Joe Raymond/Associated Press

While it was a common testament that the bubble was weak this season, Miami didn’t crack the NCAA tournament field despite a dominant victory at Duke.

When the Hurricanes are playing at their best, they can challenge almost anyone in the country. Outside of that victory over the Blue Devils, they beat Florida, Illinois, North Carolina State and Syracuse and took Virginia to double overtime. However, after starting 8-0, Miami struggled with inconsistency down the stretch and lost an opportunity to punch its ticket in the ACC tournament against Notre Dame.

Still, if the version of the Hurricanes that won at Cameron Indoor Stadium shows up in the NIT, Alabama is in trouble.

Former Texas-transfer Sheldon McClellan led the team in scoring with 14.7 points a night and can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting on the wing. He and Angel Rodriguez make a formidable backcourt duo when they are playing at their best (and when Rodriguez is actually healthy). 

The David Glenn Show noted during the season that Miami is a different team when Rodriguez is on the floor, and the point guard should play Saturday:

With Rodriguez and McClellan as scoring threats on the outside and Tonye Jekiri as a glass-cleaner down low, Miami has the pieces to not only beat Alabama but advance deep in the NIT. Jekiri averaged 10.1 rebounds a night and is a double-double threat every time he steps on the floor.

This game is in Miami too, but don’t overlook the Crimson Tide.

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Alabama lost a heartbreaker at Wichita State, beat UCLA, took Arkansas to overtime and just destroyed Illinois in its first game of the NIT. It should have some momentum heading into this contest after completely overwhelming the Fighting Illini with a 21-point win.

What’s more, the Crimson Tide should be able to exploit a Miami defense that finished 106th in the country in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted defensive efficiency rankings. Levi Randolph is a scoring machine on the outside (15.3 points a night) and lit up Illinois for 20 points in the last game.

Randolph has to carry more of the load for Alabama because second-leading scorer Ricky Tarrant has been out since January. If the Crimson Tide are going to win, they will need another impressive performance from their top offensive threat.

Steve Helber/Associated Press

The Tarrant injury isn’t the only adversity Alabama is dealing with in the NIT. Head coach Anthony Grant was fired after the season, although the players deserve some credit for the way they came out in the first game of the NIT following the news.

Miami coach Jim Larranaga said commented on that situation, via Michael Casagrande of Al.com: "Oh, I think Alabama's players are on a mission. I think they had a great relationship with Anthony Grant. They're probably all very disappointed that they let him down. A few more wins and they're probably in the NCAA Tournament and probably Anthony would still be coaching."

The Crimson Tide are motivated and have an individual scorer in Randolph who can beat a vulnerable Miami defense.

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

However, this game takes place in Miami against a Hurricanes squad that is battle-tested from a difficult ACC slate. Rodriguez is also healthy again and forms a dangerous trio with McClellan and Jekiri.

Alabama will challenge the Hurricanes, but the home-court advantage and the health of Rodriguez will ultimately prove to be too much. 

Prediction: Miami 81, Alabama 76

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