NIT 2016: Updated Bracket, Schedule and Predictions Heading into Semifinals

They would rather clinch a Final Four berth, but four remaining squads instead have an opportunity to capture the 2016 NIT crown.

While top March Madness snub isn't the most prestigious title, the NIT winner receives a nice consolation prize along with vindication of getting wrongly hoodwinked by the selection committee. Besides, wouldn't conquering the consolation bracket provide more satisfaction than an abrupt NCAA-tournament exit?

The last teams standing, all mid-major representatives, must wait until Tuesday, when Madison Square Garden hosts a semifinals doubleheader. Two of those schools boast a higher KenPom.com rating than Notre Dame, which is instead competing for an Elite Eight spot.

With three rounds in the books—the full bracket results are available on NCAA.com—here's a look at the upcoming semifinals schedule.

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	TV	Prediction
Tue., March 29	7 p.m.	No. 1 Valparaiso vs. No. 2 BYU	ESPN	72-66 Valparaiso
Tue., March 29	9 p.m.	No. 2 SDSU vs. No. 4 George Washington	ESPN	67-63 SDSU

No. 1 Valparaiso vs. No. 2 BYU

Young Kwak/Associated Press

Two contrasting styles will collide when BYU's uptempo attack faces Valparaiso's stifling defense. 

Ranking No. 10 in adjusted tempo, the Cougars have registered 84.0 points per contest this year and 88.3 in three tournament games. They also lead the NCAA in defensive rebounds, and Kyle Collinsworth can take significant credit for both. 

Averaging 15.2 points and 8.3 boards per bout, the senior guard posted his sixth triple-double of the year during a 97-79 opening-round rout over UAB. Per CougarStats, few collegiate peers have replicated that feat:

On Tuesday, Collinsworth contributed 10 points from the bench despite dealing with the flu. He welcomed the lengthy break to recover after BYU's 88-82 quarterfinal win over Creighton:

The Cougars will need a fully rested Collinsworth to reassume a regular role against the Crusaders, who rank No. 7 in adjusted defense. They have mounted increasingly dominant displays in three double-digit victories, most recently stymieing St. Mary's to 44 points during the quarterfinals. The Gaels, who rate No. 21 in adjusted offense, shot 33.9 percent (19-of-56) from the floor.

Offensively, the Horizon Conference powerhouse lives and dies with star forward Alec Peters. The junior has tallied 18.5 points per game on a pristine 66.2 true-shooting percentage, per Sports-Reference.com. He has also caught fire at an opportune time, averaging 26.6 points over a seven-game stretch during which he has offered no fewer than 20 each contest.

The Crusaders were one victory away from dancing before Green Bay stunned them in overtime of the conference-tournament final. Despite losing the automatic entry, their 26-win season still warranted an at-large bid, and they're proving it against inferior adversaries.

Valparaiso will derail BYU's rapid pace and again enjoy a heavy dose of Peters, who will guide the No. 1 seed into the final stage.

No. 2 San Diego State vs. No. 4 George Washington

David Becker/Associated Press

Like Valparaiso, San Diego State relies on bone-crushing defense. Only Wichita State wields a more efficient defense, yet the Aztecs are stuck in the NIT bracket. Everyone in their path has paid for this transgression.

The Aztecs have cruised to the semifinals, winning three games by a combined 55 points. Their only double-digit losses have come against West Virginia and Kansas, but a lackluster offense and Mountain West Conference finals loss leaves them settling for a game at the World's Most Famous Arena. 

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune's Mark Zeigler, senior Winston Shepard doesn't mind playing at the NIT:

"

I like where we’re at. I wouldn’t say we wanted to prove a point to the (selection) committee. We’re just happy to still be playing. By the time we get to New York, there will be eight teams left in the country playing. To be able to say that, I don’t care if it’s the NIT or the NCAA, if you’re still playing at this point your team is pretty special.

"

George Washington, on the other hand, couldn't form a strong case for NCAA-tournament inclusion. Despite impressive triumphs over Virginia, VCU and Seton Hall, the Colonials scattered 10 losses into the season, including three against programs outside of the RPI top 100.  

They're standing strong anyway, most notably knocking off a prominent tournament snub in Monmouth. Amassing 7.3 steals per game, they'll look to orchestrate turnovers and capitalize in transition. 

Tyler Cavanaugh has registered at least 20 points in all three NIT games, but he'll have a difficult time extending the streak against a ferocious SDSU defense allowing the lowest field-goal percentage and accruing the second-most blocks. The Aztecs will have to break a sweat this time, but they'll ultimately prevail in a low-scoring affair.

Note: All advanced statistics courtesy of KenPom.com unless otherwise noted.