National Invitation Tournament : Buckeyes Give Miller Going-Away Party

Ohio State never won a conference or a postseason tournament title in Eldon Miller’s first nine years as coach. In his 10th season, six weeks after he was fired, the Buckeyes gave Miller the championship of the 49th National Invitation Tournament.

“I’ve experienced this feeling only one other time in basketball, 25 years ago,” Miller said Wednesday night after Ohio State defeated Wyoming, 73-63, in the NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden. “I was a senior at Wittenberg College and we won the college division national championship.

“I told our team at halftime (tonight) that 25 years from now, I want to be able to celebrate two championships. Now, all I have to do is make it that far.”

Miller, who was fired Feb. 3, effective at the end of the season, coached Ohio State to five consecutive NIT victories. At the same time, he was trying to recruit players by telephone for Northern Iowa, where he will coach next season.

“I have no special emotions,” said Miller, 47. “I am just glad I’ve got a place to go. I didn’t say goodby to them. I don’t say goodby to friends. They won’t have a bigger fan next year than Eldon Miller. I’m not going to the moon or outer space.”

Gary Williams has been named to coach the Buckeyes next year.

Dennis Hopson hit nine straight field goals at one stretch and finished with 26 points against Wyoming. Hopson, who made 12 of 17 shots, and 7-foot forward Brad Sellers, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds, formed an unbeatable 1-2 punch for the Buckeyes (19-14).

Sellers, who had 23 points, 13 rebounds and nine blocked shots in the semifinals against Louisiana Tech, was named the Most Valuable Player of the NIT Final Four.

Wyoming (24-12) relied mainly on guard Fennis Dembo, who scored 27 points. Center Eric Leckner fouled out with 6 points, 12 under his postseason average.