HARDING LIVE | 30 minutes from tip-off

- I'll be blogging live from Columbus for today's Division I state semifinal between Warren Harding and Columbus Northland, so if you weren't able to get down here, stay with us. But I should note you can also watch it live on OhioHSsports.com.

- Northland is the state's top ranked team and features Mr. Basketball Jared Sullinger, a junior forward who has already committed to Ohio State. His older brother J.J. played at OSU and his other brother plays at Kent State.

- This is my fourth trip to Columbus for the state boys basketball tournament and this is the third time an area team was matched up with Mr. Basketball. The others were Poland in 2002 vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (LeBron James) and Poland in 2007 against Upper Sandusky (Jon Diebler). Interestingly enough, LeBron was a junior in 2002 and ended up losing in the state final to St. Bernard Roger Bacon.

- The TV set in front of me is showing highlights from LeBron James' senior year at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary when he won his third title. It's amazing how young he looks. I think his arms are twice as big now and I know he has a lot more tattoos.

- Area teams are 0-4 down here when I cover them. Poland and Bristol lost in 2002 and Poland also lost in 2007 and 2008. The only time I covered a semifinal victory was when the Ursuline girls won in 2006 when Tyra Grant was a senior. The Irish lost in the state final.

- I talked to a few of my fellow scribes and most people figure Harding will lose by about five tonight. Dave Burcham, a former Vindicator writer and longtime Warren Tribune-Chronicle sports editor, is predicting a Harding win. This is not surprising. Dave's a big Valley booster. But he did make an interesting comment when he said he thought Harding would have won it all last year had they not been ripped off in last year's regional final.

- My prediction is Northland by 10. I'd love to be wrong, but I think not having Sheldon Brogdon will finally bite the Raiders. When I saw Harding earlier in the year against Mansfield, I thought they were a legitimate state championship threat. They were easily the best basketball team I'd seen in the Valley since I was hired in 2001.

- The X-factor is Desmar Jackson. Sometimes I wonder if he knows just how good he is. The kid is capable of scoring 40. If he plays to his ability, Harding has a chance. If not, they don't.

- This is trivial, but hey, I'll share it anyway. The OHSAA is nice enough to serve a small media dinner during the basketball tournament, but I was bummed out to see vegetarian lasagna as the main course. As a lifelong Protestant (and an Italian, go figure), I've always enjoyed eating meat on Fridays during Lent. I think I'll stop by City Barbecue after the game tonight. As for my Catholic brothers (and sisters), let me say how much I admire you. I'll be thinking of you tonight when I bite into either pulled pork or beef brisket.