THE LATEST LINE: GOOD LUCK IN TRYING TO PICK OVC TOURNAMENT WINNER

If you're trying to pick a winner -- or even the finalists -- in the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament that begins Tuesday, I have just two words of wisdom.

Good luck.

That's because, in recent years, the tournament has never been more wide open, particularly for the teams fortunate enough to get to Nashville, Tenn., where the OVC's 'Final Four' will be held Friday and Saturday.

The last two years, Murray State and Southeast Missouri State University totally dominated the OVC's regular season -- no squad came within six games of them two years ago and no team was within three games of the pair last season -- and it would have been a major surprise if either the Racers or Indians didn't go on to win the league tourney title.

That's exactly what happened as the Racers earned the OVC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 1998-99 and the Indians nabbed that honor in 1999-2000.

And three years ago, the Racers dominated the league before going on to also win the tournament.

But not since the 1996-97 regular season -- when only two games separated the top four teams and two other squads were just another game back -- have things been so wide open entering the OVC tourney.

The top four finishers in this year's regular season that ended Saturday -- Tennessee Tech, Murray State, Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay -- are separated by just two games.

And the next four teams -- particularly fifth-place SEMO -- are all considered dangerous as they prepare to hit the road for Tuesday's opening round.

In trying to determine the teams that might get to Nashville, the top four regular-season finishers -- who earned first-round home games -- have to be considered favorites, but it certainly won't be a shock if one or more don't make it.

And for the four squads that do wind up in Music City, you can pretty well shake them all up and pull a name out of a hat.

Like I said, good luck in picking a winner.

• While the OVC men's tourney looks wide open, Tennessee Tech is the heavy favorite to capture women's honors.

SEMO's women, who will host a first-round game Tuesday night, should have a strong chance of getting to Nashville.

And it would be nice if a good crowd comes to the Show Me Center Tuesday to lend the Otahkians support.

* A few quick hits regarding Southeast Missouri high school basketball after Class 3A-4A teams had their district tournaments this past week and 1A-2A squads prepare for postseason play (a couple of those district meets actually started Saturday):

* Can anybody remember a time when the area's 4A boys teams were collectively so weak?

* Notre Dame's girls, who recently moved into the top spot in the 2A poll, look like they could make a strong run at their first state championship.

* Has any team in recent memory improved more from the start of the season to the end than Charleston's boys? The Bluejays looked absolutely horrendous in the U-High Christmas Tournament but have wound up as one of the area's top clubs and the favorite to claim the 2A, District 2 title.

* And finally, in response to a recent Southeast Missourian letter to the editor saying I should have been more tactful and considerate of Cape Central players' feelings in describing their shooting against Farmington Monday, I totally agree and would like to make a retraction.

The Tigers played wonderful offense and shot the ball extremely well on their way to the grand total of two third-quarter points.