NIT Tournament 2015: Bracket, Schedule and Monday Predictions

You may be wondering what to do with yourself on Monday. After all, the NCAA tournament takes a break until Thursday, causing withdrawal for basketball junkies everywhere.

But fear not, folks, for there is still some excellent National Invitation Tournament action to take in. Below, you'll find the schedule and a preview for all of Monday's contests.

Bracket

For the updated bracket, check out NCAA.com.

Schedule

Time (ET)	Game	Prediction
7 p.m.	(3) Louisiana Tech at (2) Texas A&M	Louisiana Tech
8 p.m.	(4) Illinois State at (1) Old Dominion	Old Dominion
9 p.m.	(3) Murray State at (2) Tulsa	Murray State

Preview

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Texas A&M should beat Louisiana Tech. This is a team that took Kentucky to double overtime in January, only lost by six to Arkansas in February and beat LSU twice. Had the Aggies not lost three of their last four games and been knocked out of the SEC tournament by Auburn in their first game, they likely would have been dancing, not playing in the NIT. 

But Texas A&M may not be at full strength in this game, as Danuel House has missed three straight games for the team. House is the team's leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points per game, and without him the Aggies will find it very difficult to knock out Louisiana Tech. 

The Bulldogs played Temple, Syracuse and NC State tough, though they lost each game, and they also went 1-2 against UAB, losing to the Blazers in overtime in March. The one thing to look out for is Louisiana Tech's defense. The team is 10th in the nation in blocks per game (5.7) and 12th in steals per contest (8.6).

Michale Kyser averages an impressive 2.8 blocks per game, while the scoring comes from Raheem Appleby (15.4 PPG) and Alex Hamilton (14.8 PPG). Of course, if the Bulldogs get 43 points from their bench as they did against Central Michigan, any team will have a tough time beating them.

"I'm mad at our freshman for not performing like that all year," head coach Mike White joked after the game, per The Associated Press via Fox Sports. "That was as well as we have played offensively all year and one of our better games in its entirety this season."

If House can go, look for the Aggies to take this one. But given his absence in the past three games, don't be surprised if he doesn't play and Louisiana Tech moves on.

Old Dominion's stingy defense—the Monarchs give up just 56.7 points per game, 10th in the nation—should be too much to overcome for Illinois State. This is a team that knocked off LSU, VCU and Louisiana Tech, remember. The Monarchs can play.

Like Texas A&M, however, Old Dominion could be missing its top player in this one, per Ed Miller of The Virginian-Pilot:

Without Trey Freeman, Old Dominion is in trouble. With him, it'll advance.

Finally, there is Tulsa taking on Murray State. Tulsa played a solid nonconference schedule, losing to Oklahoma State, Wichita State and Oklahoma while beating Temple twice in American Athletic Conference play.

It'll run into arguably the best offense in the NIT, however, as the aptly named Murray State Racers score 79.1 points per game (11th in the country), shoot 48.4 percent from the field (15th) and dish out 15.4 assists per game (25th). Cameron Payne (20.1 points, 5.9 assists per game) leads the way, while Jarvis Williams (15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds per contest) is one heck of a second option.

Don't be surprised if Murray State puts up 80 or more points on Tulsa. It has that type of offense.