NIT 2015: Updated Bracket, Full Schedule and Semifinals Predictions
Only four teams remain in the 2015 NIT, each reaching the semifinals following three impressive tournament victories.
No. 1 Temple has been torching opposition with an offense that has suddenly come to life. Although, the Owls will be heavily tested against a resilient Miami team that continues to prevail in close games. No. 1 Old Dominion has been riding its stout defense through three rounds, but Stanford's red-hot offense has been extremely difficult to contain during NIT action.
With a trip to the tournament's championship game on the line, both of these contests are sure to lead to some compelling college hoops. So, to ensure you don't miss a moment of the action, let's take a look at the complete schedule, updated NIT bracket and predict both semifinal winners.
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NIT Semifinals Schedule
| March 31 | 7 p.m. | No. 1 Temple vs. No. 2 Miami | ESPN |
| March 31 | 9 p.m. | No. 1 Old Dominion vs. No. 2 Stanford | ESPN |
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Updated Bracket: CBSSports.com
Semifinals Predictions
No. 1 Temple vs. No. 2 Miami
It's almost difficult to believe Temple's offense ranked 238th in the nation in points per game during the regular season. Through three NIT contests, the Owls have scored 73, 90 and 77 points, respectively, and are red-hot entering the semifinals.
A tremendous trio of starting guards has propelled Temple's offense to new heights, and each was on fire in the team's quarterfinals contest against Louisiana Tech. Quenton DeCosey led the way with 21 points and added 11 rebounds for the game's only double-double. Jesse Morgan delivered a 17-point, six-rebound performance, and Will Cummings came away with 15 points and six assists.
Not only did those showings produce a team shooting percentage of 49.1 from the floor, but the Owls went an impressive 9-of-18 from downtown. Factor in the squad's 39 rebounds, 16 assists and just five turnovers, and you get a well-rounded effort that would be difficult for any opponent to overcome.
Miami has been impressive in its own right, as the Hurricanes continue to deliver clutch performances in close games. The team's 63-61 quarterfinals victory over Richmond was a perfect example, as a versatile Miami team overcame a woeful 31.1 shooting percentage with dominating interior play, good ball control and stellar shooting from the foul line.
Guard Sheldon McClellan continues to be the team's offensive catalyst, and he bucketed 16 points against the Spiders. Davon Reed came away with the game's only double-double after a 10-point, 12-rebound effort. They were complemented by 7'0" center Tonye Jekiri and forward Joe Thomas, who combined for 11 of the team's 17 offensive boards.
If Miami can control the interior against Temple and create second-chance opportunities, it will have a fighting chance to reach the final. However, due to the versatile guard play on an Owls offense that can get it done from the perimeter, the nod goes to Temple here.
Prediction: Temple 77, Miami 68
No. 1 Old Dominion vs. No. 2 Stanford
The second game of the semifinals features two teams with contrasting styles. Old Dominion has been successful due to a defense that ranked eighth in the nation during the regular season, allowing an average of just 56.8 points per game. Stanford, on the other hand, has scored at least 74 points in all three of its NIT contests.
The Monarchs can be deadly on the defensive end of the court, as they held Charleston Southern and Illinois State to 56 and 49 points, respectively, in their first two NIT games. Murray State did manage to produce 69 points in the third contest against Old Dominion, but it wasn't due to a lack of defense.
Murray State shot just 37.7 percent from the floor and hit five of 21 attempts from downtown in that game, but 23 Old Dominion personal fouls put the Racers on the line frequently, and that resulted in 24 of the team's points—it had a whopping 35 free-throw attempts. If Old Dominion can cut down on mistakes going forward, Trey Freeman and Co. should be able to produce another victory in the NIT.
Stanford's defense hasn't been nearly as stout, but that doesn't matter to the Cardinal, as they have been winning games by simply outscoring opponents on the offensive end of the court. A nice blend of size on the inside and strong perimeter shooting continues to propel the team through the tournament.
Guard Chasson Randle has been phenomenal this season, and he produced 16 points in Stanford's quarterfinals win over Vanderbilt. However, Anthony Brown stole the show with a 26-point effort, adding eight rebounds and four assists. Stefan Nastic, a 6'11" center, controlled the inside, tallying seven rebounds and 12 points, and forward Rosco Allen collected seven boards of his own.
Stanford's ability to generate points in a variety of ways will give the Monarchs trouble in the semifinals. Old Dominion allowed 15 offensive boards to Murray State in its most recent game, and that's not good against a solid rebounding team like the Cardinal. Those second-chance opportunities will be what allows Stanford's offense to prevail against Old Dominion's defense.
Prediction: Stanford 67, Old Dominion 64
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