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NIT Gambling: NIT Tournament Final

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The Final Four may not take to the court until the weekend, but that other tournament will crown their champion on Thursday night. The NIT Tournament final goes at Madison Square Garden with the South Carolina Gamecocks defending their title versus the Michigan Wolverines.

The Gamecocks should be very familiar with the NIT Final pressure after winning the tournament last season. South Carolina defeated Saint Joseph’s 60-57 in the final, covering the slim 1-point spread. If they can pull off another win on Thursday night, they will become only the second team ever to win back-to-back NIT titles.

Only three starters from last year's championship squad returned, but it didn’t seem to matter as the Gamecocks ploughed through the rest of the tournament field. South Carolina started things off with a 74-55 whipping of Western Kentucky, easily covering the 8-point spread. Tarence Kinsey was the Gamecocks' go-to-guy in that win with 23 points.

Next up was Florida State, who looked dangerous after playing strong down the stretch in the regular season. The Seminoles proved to be the Gamecocks' first bump in the road on the way to the final, as South Carolina just squeezed out a 69-68 win in overtime. The Gamecocks covered again, as the oddsmakers had pegged them as 3-point dogs. Tre Kelley had a complete performance with 17 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Kinsey was key again with 14 points that included what turned out to be the winning free-throws in OT.

After their scare versus the Seminoles, the Gamecocks knocked off Cincinnati 65-62 after Kelley exploded for 10 points in the second half that included the winning basket in the final minute. Kelley finished with 21 points and Brandon Wallace added 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Gamecocks won again as dogs (+2.5).

To reach the final the Gamecocks had to get through top-seeded Louisville. Renaldo Balkman picked the right time to emerge from his offensive drought to lead the team with 23 points and eight rebounds. Balkman had only scored eight points combined in the Gamecocks’ other three tournament games, which included putting up a goose-egg versus both Western Kentucky and Cincinnati.

Michigan’s journey through the NIT started with UTEP. The Wolverines easily buried the Miners 82-67 in their opener, as they covered the 7.5-point spread. Chris Hunter poured in a career-high 20 points to go along with eight rebounds in the win.

The Wolverines took on the 3-point shooting phenoms from Notre Dame next, and not surprisingly the game went into overtime. The Irish ended up on the losing end of another close game, as Michigan won 87-84. That game was a push on the line as the Wolverines had been favored by 3 points. Daniel Horton was the star this time around, netting 29 points and handing out eight assists.

The Wolverines knocked off Miami next, as Horton delivered another stellar performance with 19 points in a 71-65 victory. Chris Hunter added 16 points and Lester Abram scored 15 points, matching his total versus Notre Dame. The Wolverines shot an impressive 55 percent from the field and 52 percent from 3-point range to cover the 4-point spread.

Against Old Dominion in the semifinals, the Wolverines were supposed to be the underdog. Instead they tore up the Monarchs 66-43 to advance to the final. Courtney Sims finally found his game to lead the Wolverines with 18 points after previously averaging only 5.3-points per game in the tournament.

The Gamecocks and Wolverines seem to match up well in the final with both teams boasting numerous players that can put points on the board. The NIT title could be determined by whichever team’s big man - Sims for Michigan, Wallace for South Carolina - outplays the other. Both teams boast impressive perimeter shooters, but the battle inside could be more important.

The oddsmakers expect the Gamecocks to add another NIT banner to the rafters after setting them as 3.5-point favorites.

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