Jimmy’s prediction for the NIT Final didn’t pan out very well, did it? I was so stoked for a potential Florida vs. Ohio State final I guess it got in the way of my usually impeccable judgment. Instead we’ll all have to settle for Massachusetts versus Ohio State.

The Minutemen surprised me again with their 81-69 pounding of the Gators in the NIT semis on Tuesday night. Maybe destiny is playing a part for Dante Milligan at Madison Square Garden.

For anyone who doesn’t know Milligan’s story and his connections to the Garden, it’s worth checking out because it’s another example of how sports can have a true impact on real life.

The Buckeyes at least paid me off on my Tuesday night wager with their 81-69 thrashing of Mississippi, thanks to their balanced offensive attack led by Jamar Butler and Special K, Kosta Koufos.

Before placing my wagers on the NIT Final, I’ll have to see how close Florida and Mississippi were to the Knicks’ locker room, because losing probably spreads like the plague out of there.

I was cheering for the Gators to take the NIT and casually prop it up next to their back-to-back national championships, but now that Florida has been vanquished I’ll throw my support (and my money) behind the Minutemen.

The early NIT lines had the Minutemen at +2.5, but after seeing how they took apart Syracuse and Florida, they appear destined to go all the way in the NIT.

To tell you the truth, I just want to see Ohio State come oh-so-close and lose once again. If that does happen on Wednesday night, perhaps an argument can be made that the Buckeyes are becoming the Buffalo Bills of college sports. 

Jimmy Harris