NIT 2016: Full Bracket, Field and Viewing Info for Tournament

The 2016 NIT fits right in with the "madness" descriptor so often used to depict the month of March.

Thanks to conference tournament upsets and a playing field trumpeting more disparity than ever, the NIT isn't some second-rate tournament with iffy teams and lopsided encounters.

No, this year's NIT might not have Ben Simmons and LSU, but it does have angry teams that could have put on a run in the Big Dance and top seeds in matchups that don't look like a sure thing.

Ohio State, one of the teams involved in the fray, provided a look at the bracket, which boasts the entire field and broadcast information:

With the bare necessities out of the way, let's take a look at what folks should watch for as the tournament gets underway.

Notable Opening-Round Matchups

No. 1 Monmouth vs. No. 8 Bucknell

Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Monmouth has more right to be angry than anyone else in the NIT.

The Hawks sit 55th in ESPN's RPI rankings with a 27-7 record. A 209th strength of schedule stinks, but it's about par for the course for what a team out of the MAAC can do. Even so, the Hawks mustered a 6-4 mark against the RPI top 100 with notable wins left and right.

Yet here they are. Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg helped sum up the baffling situation:

Justin Robinson (19.5 points per game) and the Hawks will look to vent their frustrations on eighth-seeded Bucknell, though it's not as easy as it sounds.

The Bison hail from the Patriot League and put together a 16-13 record on a 247th strength of schedule. It sounds rough, but Chris Hass (17.2) and the Bison shoot 37 percent from deep, just like the Hawks, and average just two fewer rebounds per game.

Both teams like to get out and run, so as long as Bucknell doesn't blink in the face of a higher seed, this could wind up as a high-scoring game with upset potential.

Not that Monmouth will allow an upset. The team has something to prove to the selection committee, with an NIT title the best possible "I told you so" available.

Prediction: Monmouth 78, Bucknell 73

No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Belmont

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The Georgia Bulldogs out of the SEC were another notable bubble team the selection committee passed up, though the team deserves credit for even landing in the conversation thanks to a strong close to the season.

Alas, it wasn't enough. Neither was an RPI of 62, 19 wins against a 23rd strength of schedule and an ugly 0-5 mark against the RPI top 50.

The reward? A trip to the NIT and a deceptive matchup against a potent Belmont Bruins team. After giving viewing details, Dan McDonald of Rivals.com dropped a nugget folks will want to remember:

Indeed, these Bruins aren't any fun for opponents.

Belmont might have landed 95th in RPI with just 19 wins after a 171st strength of schedule and a 1-1 mark against the RPI top 50, but the resume doesn't tell it all.

No, the Bruins boast 82 points per game led by Evan Bradds and Craig Bradshaw, who both average better than 16 points per game. Like the Bulldogs, the Bruins shoot 36 percent from deep and average five more assists.

Georgia has some strong scorers of its own, but it only manages 70 points per game. Even worse, the team has had some serious issues finishing games this year, which placed the team in this predicament in the first place.

Look for Belmont to get out hot early and never look back.

Prediction: Belmont 75, Georgia 71

No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Akron

Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

An in-state battle between Ohio State and Akron looks quite odd on paper.

The Akron Zips out of the MAC actually have a better RPI than Ohio State, coming in at 36 with a 25-8 record and 6-2 mark against the RPI top 100. The Buckeyes won 20 games to sit 72nd in RPI with a 3-10 mark against the RPI top 100.

The difference? Strength of schedule—Ohio State sat 31st, Akron 135th.

Still, Ohio State is one of those teams most pegged as NIT-bound because of its youth and need for experience. It's why head coach Thad Matta didn't sound too disappointed with the landing spot, according to Bill Landis of Cleveland.com:

"

We are excited about the opportunity to continue our season and appreciate the NIT committee for selecting Ohio State. We have a young team who will surely benefit from the additional practice and competition. We need our fans to come out and support this team Tuesday at Value City Arena.

"

The Buckeyes only average 70 points and 11 assists per game while shooting 34 percent from deep. Marc Loving leads the way at 13.7 points per game, but growing pains prevented the Buckeyes from getting big wins in a plethora of opportunities.

Akron, on the other hand, looks like it has a serious shot at an upset. Better scoring (77) and assist (15) averages than Ohio State seem a product of the schedule, but the team knocking down 39 percent of its shots from deep with four players shooting better than 40 percent from long range isn't.

So long as the young Buckeyes can come prepared and clamp down on the perimeter, they should have an avenue for success. The disappointment needs to morph into motivation for the future, though. Matta will have his guys hungry and controlling the pace in this one.

Prediction: Ohio State 63, Akron 59

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Stats and information courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Advanced metrics courtesy of ESPN.com.