NIT 2017: Bracket Predictions for Updated Schedule

In a normal year, the NIT might have a hard time keeping pace with the Big Dance when the bigger men's hoop bracket sends a Cinderella like South Carolina to the Final Four. 

This isn't a normal year for the NIT.

The lesser of the two tournaments has been every bit as entertaining this year, even on a smaller scale. As it gears up for the semifinals at Madison Square Garden, the bracket boasts an eighth seed still in the running and no top seeds whatsoever.

Call it a worthy complement to the madness that plays out soon in New York and will cement the title encounter. Here's a look at the updated schedule and breakdown.

Semifinals Schedule

Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	Television
No. 8 CS Bakersfield vs. No. 6 Georgia Tech	Tuesday, March 28	7 p.m.	ESPN
No. 4 Central Florida vs. No. 4 TCU	Tuesday, March 28	9 p.m.	ESPN

Updated NIT bracket available at NCAA.com.

No. 8 CS Bakersfield vs. No. 6 Georgia Tech

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Few had CS Bakersfield (77th in ESPN's RPI rankings) making it this far.

Observers knew something was up right after the first round, a 73-66 upset of top-seeded California. Senior Dedrick Basile scored 18 points as one of four players in double digits and hasn't cooled, scoring 17 while blowing out fourth-seeded Colorado State, 81-63, and another 14 while moving past sixth-seeded Texas-Arlington, 80-76.

Unfortunately for the sixth-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (106th RPI), their opponent's Cinderella run has overshadowed their own. Freshman Josh Okogie has been on fire, scoring 24, 15 and 26 points over the three games.

None of the Yellow Jackets' wins were uncomfortable. A strong defense held third-seeded Indiana to 37.9 percent shooting from the floor (22 of 58) in a 75-63 outcome. Seventh-seeded Belmont only shot 33.3 percent (21 of 63) in a 71-57 decision and fifth-seeded Ole Miss 39.7 percent (27 of 68) on the way to a 74-66 loss.

In other words, Tuesday is something of a defensive showdown. The Yellow Jackets rank sixth in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom.com. CS Bakersfield isn't far behind at 15th.

Call it a staring contest. In one like this, the team that has been there before and boasts more experience doesn't usually blink first. This points to Basile having another strong performance as the eighth seed keeps its Cinderella story alive via clutch defense near the end of the game.

Prediction: CS Bakersfield 70, Georgia Tech 68

No. 4 Central Florida vs. No. 4 TCU

David J. Becker/Getty Images

The other semifinal matchup is more a war of opposing strengths. 

Fourth-seeded Central Florida (70th RPI) leans on a strong defense as well impressive results. In the second round, the Knights held top-seeded Illinois State to 36.7 percent shooting (22 of 60) in a 63-62 upset. Shortly after, the same suffocating defense held second-seeded Illinois to 30.6 percent (19 of 62) in a 68-58 victory, justifying the 17th slot in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom.

TCU (67th RPI), also a fourth seed, leans more on the offensive side of things, hence a 39th slotting in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom.

The Horned Frogs warmed up against fifth-seeded Fresno State in a 66-59 affair. They then turned around and dropped 94 in a two-point escape of top-seeded Iowa while shooting 50.7 percent (36 of 71), led by 19 from both Alex Robinson and Vladimir Brodziansky.

Far from done, TCU blasted through sixth-seeded Richmond, 86-68, shooting 51.6 percent (33 of 64) while Brodziansky scored 20 and four players total hit double digits.

UFC will have a hard time slowing the 6'11", 220-pound Brodziansky. If he starts running free and TCU gets to play at its preferred pace, UCF doesn't have the offensive firepower to match. Look for the Horned Frogs to pull away in the second half after relentless attacks shuffle the UCF lineup due to foul trouble.

Prediction: TCU 84, UCF 70

Advanced metrics courtesy of ESPN.com.