NIT 2015: Bracket, TV Schedule and X-Factors for Tournament Semifinals

There is no Cinderella among the four teams left in the NIT. Their credentials are just too good to be called that. Each almost qualified for the NCAA tournament, drew a high seed here and has punched a ticket to Tuesday's semifinal in New York City.

So when No. 1 Temple takes on No. 2 Miami and then No. 1 Old Dominion faces No. 2 Stanford at Madison Square Garden, there isn't likely to be much of a talent disparity. One team won't be significantly more athletic or capable. It will likely be the small details—the things that often go by the wayside when brains get fatigued beneath the stage's bright lights—that will prove the difference.

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

Full tournament schedule available at NCAA.com.

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Updated Bracket: NCAA.com

X-Factors for Tuesday's Matchups

Health Is Everything

Old Dominion won't have much of a chance against Stanford if Trey Freeman's ankle is still ailing. The junior guard, who leads the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game, was limited to just 12 minutes because of an ankle injury when the Monarchs barely escaped Illinois State during the second round, according to The Associated Press.

Freeman returned in the next game and played 36 minutes. Looser and surer on his feet, he scored a game-high 25 points, including this game-winning three-point heave that made SportsCenter:

Old Dominion has won its last two games by a combined four points, so offense will be at a premium against experienced Stanford. The Cardinal, winners of the NIT in 2012, are led by senior Chasson Randle and can score with anybody.

Randle recorded 35 points in a second-round victory over Rhode Island, is averaging 23 points per game in the NIT and, according to the Associated Press, has moved into second place on Stanford's career scoring list. After winning the NIT as a freshman, he will be looking to bookend his college career with another title.

The Monarchs have coughed up double-digit leads before eking out wins in each of their last two games. They can't afford to get careless against a Stanford team that is scoring the 56th-most points per game in the country (72.3).

Dial in from the Start

While the two teams in the above matchup get by on charged offenses, stingy defense is Temple's calling card. The Owls have won their three tournament games by a combined 37 points, the most of any other semifinalist. And they haven't trailed in two straight games, according to the Associated Press, via The News Tribune.

So they present a unique challenge to Miami, which can sometimes not get dialed into a contest until late. Take the Hurricanes' second-round tilt against Richmond, for example. Miami had to rally from 18 points down before escaping with a two-point victory.

Hurricanes Coach Jim Larranaga told the Associated Press that late starts are a part of his team's personality. "We've been in this situation so many times this year," he said. "Our second game was at Florida, and we were down 15 in the second half and we came back and won."

Miami's leading scorer Sheldon McClellan, sophomore teammate Davon Reed and junior Angel Rodriguez will have to bring the focus and scoring touch from the opening tip if they expect to escape Temple and advance to the final.