THE LATEST LINE: IT'S TIME FOR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT COLLEGE HOOPS

I don't know about you, but for me, this is something of a sad time of the year.

I'm about to go into withdrawal. That's because the college basketball season is now officially over.

Sure, I love most other sports. I wouldn't have gotten into this profession otherwise.

But people who know me well understand that college basketball is my enduring passion, something I can't get enough of, something I could basically watch -- either in person or on television -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With all due apologies to my friends who follow other sports with a passion, basketball has and always will be my all-time favorite. Don't ask me to explain why. It's just a personal thing.

And college hoops -- with its tremendous emotion and enthusiasm -- has ranked No. 1 on my personal list for a long time. Doesn't matter if it's OVC or ACC, I just love it.

But even though it's adios to college hoops for another season, I'll survive. The weather is heating up and so are the college and high school baseball seasons, with the major leagues just getting started. Other spring sports are also in full bloom. The NBA and NHL playoffs are just about upon us. And football will be here before we know it.

When you are privileged enough to follow sports for a living -- I really can't call what I do work -- it's hard to stay down for very long.

* Still on the subject of college hoops, the spring signing period begins Wednesday.

Locally, Southeast Missouri State University's men probably won't have any commitments to announce right away while SEMO's women plan to sign Jackson High School all-stater Andrea Koeper.

* SEMO softball coach Lana Richmond is closing in on a remarkable milestone.

Richmond needs just five more victories to reach 600 for her brilliant career and she could very well accomplish that feat later this week as the Otahkians have seven home games scheduled.

* A second former SEMO baseball standout who is now playing in the professional ranks has been lost for the season.

Ryan Spille, a pitcher who spent most of last year on the Class AA level in the Toronto organization, had recent shoulder surgery.

That came on the heels of Egyptian (Ill.) High School product Jeremy Johnson having shoulder surgery that ended his pro campaign.

* Former Cape Central High School standout Erin Vogt recently concluded another impressive season of big-time college swimming on the Division I level.

A junior at Arizona, Vogt was a member of the Wildcats' 400 medley relay team that placed third in the NCAA Championship Meet and individually she was ninth in the 200 butterfly.

The third-place finish was Vogt's fifth first-team All-American honor. As a sophomore, she was second in the 400 medley relay and sixth in the 200 fly. As a freshman, she was sixth in both the 400 IM and 400 medley relay.

Arizona finished fifth in the team standings at the national meet.

* Another ex-Cape Central swimming star, Jason Owen, recently finished up another standout season on the Division II level.

Competing for Drury of Springfield, Mo., Owen was second in the 1,650 freestyle, fourth in the 1,000 freestyle and fifth in the 500 freestyle at the Division II nationals.

* Here's wishing a happy birthday -- any many, many more -- to longtime Capahas manager and area baseball legend Jess Bolen, who turned 59 Tuesday.