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

If you're having nightmares about the four-day break in 2015 NCAA tournament action, there's no need to worry—the NIT offers high-level action during the week before the Big Dance resumes this weekend.

While not on the same plane as the NCAA tournament, the NIT gives programs the opportunity to build momentum and make something of seasons that have gone awry. The early rounds are often watered down by tournament snubs who have mailed it in, but those advancing to the second round are usually in it to win it—or at least advance to Madison Square Garden.

With no NCAA tournament games from Monday to Wednesday, the beginning of the week is a great time to get into NIT action. And with teams once thought of as Big Dance threats making surges in the tournament, it's getting better and better.

Here's everything you need to know for Monday, including picks and a preview of the top game to watch.

NIT 2nd-Round Schedule and Predictions

Time (ET)	Matchup	TV	Prediction
7 p.m.	No. 3 Louisiana Tech at No. 2 Texas A&M	ESPN	Louisiana Tech
8 p.m.	No. 4 Illinois State at No. 1 Old Dominion	ESPNU	Old Dominion
9 p.m.	No. 3 Murray State at No. 2 Tulsa	ESPN	Tulsa

Note: Schedule info courtesy of NCAA.com.

Live Stream: WatchESPN

NIT Bracket: CBS Sports has a live interactive bracket.

Top Matchup: No. 3 Louisiana Tech at No. 2 Texas A&M

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Teams that see their NCAA tournament bubbles burst late in the season typically react one of two ways upon entering the NIT. They either turn in hapless performances and mail in their seasons, or they refocus and look to make something of the postseason.

Considering how Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M have responded to adversity over the last month, it's not hard to tell how they're reacting.

Once virtual shoo-ins for the Big Dance, the Aggies dropped four of their last five to close the season—including a hapless loss to Auburn in the SEC tournament, which flushed their NCAA hopes. Leading scorer Danuel House's absence since March 3 seemed to trigger that late-season slide, and A&M hasn't been the same since.

Their recent struggles carried over into the NIT when they let an 18-point first-half lead over Montana evaporate completely, but they pulled out the first-round win to host Louisiana Tech in the next round.

Aggies head coach Billy Kennedy has been picking up the tab for student tickets, and he's doing the same for Monday's game:

As for Louisiana Tech, all it has been doing is winning as of late.

The Bulldogs' only losses since Jan. 22 have come against teams that either won in the NCAA tournament (UAB) or notched a No. 1 NIT seed (Old Dominion). In that span, they have won 12 of their last 15 and would have played for a Conference USA championship had they pulled out an overtime win against UAB in the semifinals.

Louisiana Tech was disheartened to miss out on the Big Dance, but it is leaning on leadership for a hopeful NIT run, as head coach Michael White told The News Star's Sean Isabella following a first-round win over Central Michigan.

"These three seniors led us with our mentality more than anything in terms of the quick turn, in terms of taking advantage of playing in a prestigious tournament that doesn't happen to be the NCAA tournament," White said. "These three guys were really down these last few days, but they showed their true colors and their character and their maturity."

Nick Lisi/Associated Press

If these teams are disappointed, they certainly haven't shot like it, as the Bulldogs shot 56.9 percent—their best clip of the season—and the Aggies shot 58.2 percent in their respective first-round wins. Bench contribution could also be key, as Louisiana Tech poured in 43 bench points against Montana, while the Aggies have only one true bench scorer in Alex Robinson.

Regardless, whoever wins has a daunting task ahead, as top-seeded Temple—the chief NCAA tournament snub of the season—awaits after dismantling No. 5 George Washington. The winner of Monday's game might run into a buzz saw, as CSN's Reuben Frank noted:

The real danger isn't looking ahead, however; it's looking back. And the Aggies' inability to put away an overmatched Montana team was reminiscent of the struggles that led Texas A&M into the NIT in the first place.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are coming off their best shooting performance of the season. With a young roster, they have a desire to build some momentum with a deep NIT run. It can't be forgotten that in a No. 2-No. 3 matchup last year, Louisiana Tech upset another SEC foe in Georgia.

After taking what crowd there is out of the game with a strong early run, doubt will creep in for the Aggies, and the Bulldogs will notch a comfortable upset.

Prediction: Louisiana Tech 71, Texas A&M 58