Hall of Fame Tip-off 2015: Teams, Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket, TV Info

College basketball season is here, which means it's time for season-opening tipoff tournaments to take over.

And Friday, the Hall of Fame Tip-Off is set to take place as eight squads kick off their campaigns with a bit of round-robin action before diving into knockout play.  

This year's tournament will feature two brackets. The Naismith bracket is comprised of the University of Florida, Old Dominion University, Purdue University and Saint Joseph's University, while the Springfield bracket boasts Buffalo, Niagara University, North Carolina A&T and the University of Vermont. 

The format has two components. Each team from the Naismith bracket will host two home games starting Nov. 13 before predetermined neutral-site showdowns determine which sides square off for their brackets' respective titles.  

Select campus road games can be viewed at WatchESPN.com before neutral-site action gets underway Nov. 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. 

Here's a rundown of when and where you can catch all the neutral-site semifinal and championship action once early-round play concludes: 

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	Viewing Info
Nov. 21	Purdue vs. Old Dominion	12 p.m.	ESPN3
Nov. 21	Florida vs. Saint Joseph's	2:30 p.m.	ESPN3
Nov. 21	Vermont vs. Niagara	5 p.m.	ESPN3
Nov. 21	Buffalo vs. North Carolina A&T	7 p.m.	ESPN3
Nov. 22 (Consolation Game)	Purdue/Old Dominion Loser vs. Florida/Saint Joseph's Loser	12 p.m.	ESPN3
Nov. 22 (Consolation Game)	Vermont/Niagara Loser vs. Buffalo/North Carolina A&T Loser	2:30 p.m.	ESPN3
Nov. 22 (Championship Game)	Purdue/Old Dominion Winner vs. Florida/Saint Joseph's Winner	5:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Nov. 22 (Championship Game)	Vermont/Niagara Winner vs. Buffalo/North Carolina A&T Winner	8 p.m.	ESPN3

The complete schedule can be viewed at HallofFameTipOff.com. 

Preview

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue will open its regular season Friday against North Carolina A&T, and all eyes figure to be on Boilermakers freshman Caleb Swanigan when Matt Painter's squad takes the floor.

With eligibility hurdles cleared, Swanigan and the 24th-ranked Boilermakers can focus on wreaking havoc in the Big Ten. Swanigan was the fourth-ranked center in his recruiting class, per 247Sports.com, and at 6'9'' and 250 pounds, it's not hard to see why. 

"He's a powerful big man who should be a load for any opponent," ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf wrote. "And he'll push [A.J.] Hammons. The senior has no guarantees with Swanigan and Haas back. That competition should be a good one for the entire program."

So far, the results have been positive. Swanigan recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in an exhibition romp over Northwestern Ohio, so the youngster is understandably brimming with confidence entering his first collegiate campaign. 

"I try to play to the strengths of my game," Swanigan said, per the Journal Gazette's Clyde Hughes. "If I’m playing against a smaller guy, I’ll put him on the block. I know how to play with Isaac [Haas] because I know where he likes to catch the ball. Being versatile helps me adjust my game."

Purdue's the lone ranked team in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off field, but it should receive a stiff test from Old Dominion when neutral-site play gets underway. According to TeamRankings.com, Old Dominion ranked 14th in defensive efficiency last season while allowing a stingy 57.1 points per game. 

A prospective showdown with Florida in the tournament final or consolation game could also offer plenty of intrigue. Although Florida's not entering the regular season with sky-high hopes, the Gators could make an early statement by downing Purdue following the departure of former head coach Billy Donovan to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

"It’s still early and we’re searching for an identity and developing roles," Florida head coach Matt White said, according to the Basketball Hall of Fame's official Twitter account. 

With storylines abounding and all eight participating programs in search of hot starts, season-opening action should not disappoint.