THE LATEST LINE: SCRIBE'S FINAL FOUR PICKS HOLDING UP -- AT LEAST FOR NOW

Last week I wrote that I'd already tossed my NCAA Tournament bracket in the trash can after the rash of early-round upsets that always helps make the event so great.

Well, luckily I kept a copy of the original around just in case. As it turns out, maybe I'm not doing so bad after all.

Two of my Final Four picks have already come through, courtesy of Duke and Maryland winning Saturday.

If Michigan State can beat Temple -- which seems like a strong possibility -- and Arizona can knock off Illinois -- that one looks almost too close to call on paper and should be a terrific game -- today, then I'll be 4-for-4 and maybe looking halfway decent in the office pool.

* Even though I picked Arizona to beat Illinois in the Elite Eight before the NCAA Tournament began, I'd almost just as soon see the Illini prevail and give the Final Four something of a semi-local flavor.

First of all, I really like the Illini. Not only are they an excellent team, but they also seem to be made up of a bunch of really good guys.

And I think a lot of first-year Illinois coach Bill Self. I know he inherited all kinds of talent, but he has proven himself to be one terrific coach, not only this season but also by taking Tulsa to the Elite Eight last year and by turning around what had been a down program at Oral Roberts.

Incidentally, Self brought his Oral Roberts team to the Show Me Center during the 1995-96 season, the Titans spanking SEMO (then coached by Ron Shumate) 74-58.

* Former Cape Girardeau resident Jory Levy, who makes his living as a professional cowboy, recently was part of a world record performance in team roping.

Competing in a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event in Texas on March 7, Levy and partner Blaine Linaweaver had a time of 3.5 seconds, which broke the previous 15-year-old record of 3.7 seconds.

Levy, a 1993 Central High School graduate, now makes his home in Oklahoma, where he competed in rodeo collegiately at Panhandle State.

Many area residents might recognize Levy as the son of former SEMO football coach and area high school administrator Bob Levy, who is now an administrator in Chillicothe, Mo.

* The official football season is still several months away, but SEMO players and coaches will soon be hitting the practice field as spring drills begin Friday.

Under NCAA regulations, the Indians are allowed 15 workout sessions. They will spread those out through late April, culminating with the spring game on April 28.

* Congratulations to the Notre Dame girls basketball team for its fantastic season that resulted in a second-place Class 2A state finish.

Kudos to everybody associated with the program led by classy coach Jerry Grim, who is truly one of the good guys on the area sports scene.

* My apologies to Justin Cook, the mound ace of last season's Cape Central baseball team who is now pitching for Shawnee (Ill.) Community College.

I inadvertently misidentified Cook when I wrote about the Tigers' graduated ace during the area baseball preview that ran in last Sunday's Missourian.

* Here's a little clarification to the recent Speakout comment wondering why Sikeston native Jerry Dement was allowed to officiate this year's Class 3A state championship boys basketball game involving New Madrid County Central.

Dement did not officiate that contest. He took part in the Class 4A state championship game between Vashon and Liberty.

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