It could be a nostalgic spring for the Atlanta Braves as the squad reports for spring training.

    It's already been confirmed that Bobby Cox will retire at the end of the season. Some 25 years at the helm now, Cox will be a first-ballot hall of famer, one day joining his once-invincible trio of starting pitchers in Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux.

    Now word has it that third baseman Chipper Jones may call it quits after this season too. Jones turns 38 next month and is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. He hit just .264 with 18 homers and 71 RBI -- respectable numbers for most players, but sub-par for Jones. Much of the problem was injuries.

    He talked to media members about it over the weekend.

    "If I don't play this game at the level I want to play it at, then I will walk away from it."

    If that becomes the case as the summer unfolds, I hope he reveals his plans so he get a proper sendoff. He's one of the most popular Braves players ever.

    ...

    The next two weeks will determine who gets in the NCAA tournament and who gets left out. I still think the SEC will be limited to four invitees, with Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Tennessee locks. The other bid could go to Florida (which plays at Kentucky Sunday) or to Mississippi State. It's possible both get in, but they could use a couple of more victories.

    Meanwhile, the top three teams in the country all lost last weekend. Kansas fell at Oklahoma State, Kentucky stumbled at Tennessee and Purdue, playing without All-America forward Robbie Hummel, got knocked off by Michigan State.

    If the selection committee met today, the Jayhawks and Wildcats would still likely be No. 1 seeds, but Purdue may slip considerably since losing Hummel for the year. Syracuse is likely in line for a No. 1 and possibly Kansas State. Duke is red hot right now, and there are at least a half-dozen teams from the Big East capable of making a run to the Final Four.

    ...

    Barring a highly-unlikely bid to the NIT, Auburn will close out the Beard-Eaves Coliseum era Wednesday when the Tigers play host to Mississippi State. There were really only three decent stretches during the old facility's lifespan. Eddie Johnson and Mike Mitchell helped Bob Davis build a winner in the seventies. A decade later, Charles Barkley and Chuck Person filled the seats, helping the Tigers to their first-ever NCAA tourney. Then came the Chris Porter-Doc Robinson crew, which attained Auburn's highest-ever national ranking.

    Other than that, the highlights have been few and far between for the old gal. Nobody knows what the new arena will be like, but the early reviews are phenominal, with the crowd right on top of the action. Time will tell if the program gets a boost from the $90 million showcase.

    Phil Paramore's column appears Tuesdays in The Dothan Eagle. He can be heard weekday mornings from 7-9 on AM 560, 100.1 FM or at www.woofradio.com.