Former Xavier and Virginia coach Pete Gillen, a New York native and CBS Sports Network college basketball analyst, shares some of his March Madness thoughts and predictions with The Post. As told to Steve Serby.

I believe in life that sometimes you’re the nail, and sometimes you’re the hammer. The problem is I’ve been getting nailed for the last quarter of a century — I got fired, I have no money, no friends, no clothes, can’t get a break, can’t get a home game … If I had a team I might have a better chance of getting a home game.

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But I have got this Final Four wired.

SEMIFINALS

LOUISVILLE vs. KENTUCKY

Louisville coach Rick Pitino and I were assistant coaches together at the University of Hawaii, right around the Franco-Prussian War. He’s like a drill sergeant with Armani suits and mousse on him now. Kentucky coach John Calipari is like a combination of a psychologist and evangelist. Calipari could sell sand to lifeguards at Jones Beach.

Gorgui Dieng is the only big guy Louisville has, Kentucky’s gonna get him in foul trouble with Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones. Davis is like Rodan, he flies around blocking shots. He’s a quicker, more versatile version of Never Nervous Pervis Ellison.

Pitino will have to try to slow it down a little bit and pick his spots. He doesn’t want to get in a shootout with these guys, Kentucky feeds off that. Play a lot of zone, then he’s gotta cheat to Darius Miller and Doron Lamb, who are shooting the ball great, and try to limit Kentucky to one shot. Kentucky killed them on the boards when they played in December.

The talent disparity is significant, but Russ Smith is the one guy who can hurt Kentucky. He’s a pathological shooter: He’ll steal the ball from his own teammates to get a shot up. It’s a revenge game for Louisville, and Kentucky’s gotta win this tournament. If they don’t, it’s a disappointing season.

PREDICTION

KENTUCKY 70, LOUISVILLE 65

OHIO STATE vs. KANSAS

Ohio State’s Aaron Craft is the best on-ball defender I’ve ever seen at the college level. The only guy close to him was Muggsy Bogues. He reminds me of a crazed mongoose going after its prey. He gets so low and he pokes at the ball, he just disrupts it. He’s gonna dominate Kansas’ Tyshawn Taylor.

The Buckeyes’ Jared Sullinger is maybe a little bit better than the Jayhawks’ Thomas Robinson in the low post with his moves. He does a great job shooting bank shots and jump hooks, Robinson is a little more versatile, a little more mobile. He can make the 16-footer or put the ball on the ground. Sullinger’s more the bull in the china shop, and Ohio State has more wings than the Air Force. William Buford is their best wing and he hasn’t exploded yet.

Buckeyes coach Thad Matta is the best communicator since Ronald Reagan — he texts his players after games. The Jayhawks’ Bill Self reminds me of an accountant for a big firm, he looks good, smells good, he’s got clean hair …

PREDICTION

OHIO STATE 68, KANSAS 66

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

OHIO STATE vs. KENTUCKY

The one tiny Achilles’ heel for Kentucky would be the point-guard spot. Marcus Teague is a very good player, but he’s a freshman. Can a freshman win six games in the NCAA Tournament? Derrick Rose couldn’t do it at Memphis. Sometimes those kids are a little loose with the basketball. Ohio State is gonna turn over Kentucky because of Craft, who’s all over the place, and can cheat off Teague a little bit.

Davis is gonna get in foul trouble, and both coaches sit their star players when they pick up two fouls. I think Sullinger’s gonna take the ball right to his chin. I think they’re gonna bring Davis away from the basket, too, with pick-and-rolls and get some drives to the basket. Kidd-Gilchrist can cause a lot of difficulties for the Buckeyes. DeSean Thomas will probably guard him.

Matta is a little calmer on the sideline, that helps the team a little bit. Calipari sometimes gets emotional — that can be good and it can be bad. They’re both excellent game coaches.

I’m going with Jim Boeheim. He told me before they played Ohio State he was confident he would win, but he thought the Buckeyes were the best team in the country. I’m going against the grain.

PREDICTION

OHIO STATE 70, KENTUCKY 69