NIT Tournament 2015: Bracket, Schedule and Storylines to Watch in Semifinals

Despite its status as a "secondary" tournament, the NIT offers everything the Big Dance does.

In fact, with the field reduced to four ahead of the semifinals at Madison Square Garden, it's hard to imagine the NIT will offer up anything as boring as Kentucky's 78-39 shellacking of West Virginia in the Sweet 16. 

No, the NIT semifinals offer one top-tier team getting by with a potent offensive attack, another that prefers a brick wall of a defense and two star players stick out as must-see television. 

The semifinals in New York should amount to some of the best college basketball the year has to offer, so dive in armed to the teeth with information. 

NIT Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup
March 31	7 p.m.	No. 1 Temple vs. No. 2 Miami (Fla.)
March 31	9 p.m.	No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 1 Old Dominion

Printable NIT bracket is also available on NCAA.com.

Semifinals Storylines to Watch 

Canceling the Will Cummings Show

Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

There doesn't seem to be any stopping Will Cummings.

Temple's senior leader has every right to be upset his team missed the Big Dance. The Owls rank 34th in ESPN's RPI rankings with an 8-8 mark against the RPI Top 100. They weren't spectacular, but critics are right to point out bigger programs seemed to get the nod instead.

Cummings has reacted the way any senior would—blowing away the opposition.

Eighth-seeded Bucknell was Cummings' first victim. He shot 9-of-14 from the floor, banged home three shots from deep and hit on all nine of his attempts at the charity stripe, totaling 30 points.

Next up was fifth-seeded George Washington. Cummings shot 6-of-11 with eight hits from the stripe, scoring a team-high 21 points. Last was No. 3 Louisiana Tech, where Cummings breezed his way to 15 points in a rout.

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

"I think I made a statement that we're going to win the NIT, and that's kind of where I've been focused," Cummings said after, per The Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "I haven't gone into any game thinking that it's going to be my last."

Make no mistake, Cummings' next opponent—the Miami Hurricanes—is no joke. Junior center Tonye Jekiri and Co. cleaned up against sixth and seventh seeds before taking down No. 1 Richmond.

However, the Hurricanes haven't encountered anyone like Cummings yet. Not helping their case is a 97th slot in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom.com.

Keep a close eye on Cummings, as his ability to carry the Owls against their toughest encounter to date will decide the contest outright beneath the bright lights of a historic venue.

Climbing Over Old Dominion's Wall

Jason Hirschfeld/Associated Press

Stanford has a star of its own, and he's helped make the team's No. 61 RPI ranking an afterthought at this point.

Chasson Randle is another senior who doesn't seem too thrilled about the prospects of his collegiate career ending early. He took out some of his frustration on seventh-seeded UC Davis, contributing 18 points.

His next feat was even more impressive, dropping 35 points on No. 3 Rhode Island. After, the Cardinal escaped No. 5 Vanderbilt 78-75 behind his 16 points.

The thing is, Randle's task is much more difficult than Cummings' in the semifinals.

Few know about the Old Dominion Monarchs, but they rank 45th in RPI and are a bit of a defensive stalwart, coming in at 35th in adjusted defense at KenPom.com.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Said defense continues to carry the Monarchs through the bracket. The Charleston Southern Buccaneers never stood a chance in the opening round, shooting 34 percent from the field and losing the rebounding battle 46-36.

Illinois State did better in the second round, losing by just one point but shooting 38.8 percent and losing the battle on the glass by six boards. Explosive Murray State mustered just 37.7 percent shooting from the field, losing by a buzzer-beater.

Old Dominion squeaks by due to the little things on the defensive end. On the opposite end, Trey Freeman can score with the best of the best, averaging 17.1 points per game.

If Stanford's plodding attack, which ranks 29th in adjusted offensive efficiency, can figure out the Monarchs' puzzle, Randle's season will continue.

Either way it makes for one of the most interesting chess matches of the season.

Stats and info are courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.