Early Start to the NCAA March Madness

Here's the deal.

Sunday March 16th, the NCAA Selection Committee announces the teams or schools that will make up the 64 team tournament (okay there are 65 teams and a "play-in" game, but we won't get into that). The committee will place 16 teams into 4 regions, with each team receiving a seed from 1 (the best team) to 16 (the worst team in the region).

In the first round, the number 1 team plays the 16th team, 2 plays 15, etc...

The winning teams move on to the next round and the losing team goes home, and so on and so on, until 1 team remains.

The structure of the tournament lends itself to people making predictions as to who will win each game and who will win the entire tournament.

So, we want to know which of our listeners can best predict the winners of this year's tournament. It will just be a friendly competition, with full bragging rights.

Head over to www.benchsports.com
Click the "Sign up now" button. Quickly fill out the required fields.
After clicking the submit button, click the button called "Join Existing League"
The page will now ask you for the League ID - for our pool enter 535 and the League Password is talking.ball

Now you just need to enter a team name for your team/pool/guesses, your first name or nickname will work well.

On March 16th, the teams will be entered into the website and we'll all be able to make our predictions. Remember you need to predict all of the games for every round and that includes the eventually winner of the tournament. You'll need to guess the total score of the game (this will be our tie breaker), so if you think the final games ends with a score of 12-10, then enter 22 into the final score.

We will assign points to each round, so for every game you get correct you'll get points and the points will increase for each round.

Have fun with it, if you have questions, email us at talking.ball@gmail.com and we'll try to answer any inquires.


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Episode 37 – Soft Schedule

Toronto Raptors are 31-24


Week in Review

- win over Orlando 127-110

- loss to New York 103-99

- win over New York 115-92

- win over Indiana 102-98


Primoz Brezec to Raptors for Juan Dixon

Cavs get Ben Wallace, Wally Szcerbiak, Joe Smith and Delonte West – give up Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown (to Bulls), Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall (to Seattle)

Hornets get Mike James and Bonzi Wells – Bobby Jackson and Adam Haluska to Houston

Kurt Thomas to Spurs for Brent Barry (since bought out) and Francisco Elson


No Scooper tonight - he's off skiing ..... talk to you next week.



Coming up for the Raptors


- Wednesday Minnesota visits ACC (11-43)
- Friday Indiana at the ACC (22-35)
- Sunday in Charlotte (19-37)


Check out the player on the sidebar as it plays each show. This week's show is posted here. Enjoy!

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Episode 36 - Director's cut (or uncut)

Toronto Raptors are 28-23


Week in Review

- win over New Jersey 109-91


East beats West in All Star game – 134-128 – James wins MVP


Friday – Sophomores beat Rookies – Daniel Gibson with MVP

Saturday - Spurs win Shooting Stars
- Deron Williams takes the Skills Comp
- Jason Kapono repeats as 3 point champ
- Dwight Howard is this year's dunk contest winner



Mike Bibby on the way to Atlanta for Anthony Johnson, Sheldon Williams, Tyronn Lue & Lorenzen Wright & 2008 second rounder.

Sonics to move to Oklahoma City at the end of this year or 2010 (lease expires)

Kidd still in limbo between the Nets and Mavs


Anything else? YES, but part of the recording is lost..... ah, it was just Scooper yammering on, anyway... talk to you next week.

Hey, we're half way through the season, let us know your favourite Raptor play or game of the first half. Or give us a story.

Check out the player on the sidebar as it plays each show. This week's show is posted here. Enjoy!

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Coming up for the Raptors



- Wednesday Orlando (33-21) at the ACC

- Friday visit to NY Knicks (15-37) Madison Square

- Sunday 2nd game of back to back against NY Knicks (15-37)

Episode 35 - Win, Loss, Win, Loss, what comes next?

Toronto Raptors are 27-23


Week in Review

- win over Miami 114-82
- loss to LA Clipper 102- 98
- win over Minnesota 105-82
- loss to San Antonio 93-88

Miami trades Shaq to the Suns for Shawn Marion


Coming up for the Raptors


- Wednesday NJ Nets (22-29) in town


Then All Star break

Easiest way to find this week's show? Check out the player on the sidebar as it plays each show. This week's show is posted here. Enjoy!

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Shaq for Marion

Raptors are (26-21)

The biggest trade to happen in 2008 and the one with the most weight since the Garnett trade, doesn’t seem to make much sense for one of the teams.

Yes, last night the Miami Heat unloaded Shaq O’Neil’s enormous contract on the Phoenix Suns. And what did the Suns have to give up to get a 36 year old center, that has 2 years and 20 million per year left on his contract. They sent Shawn Marion to Miami, along with Marcus Banks to equal out the current salaries.

On paper this trade works. The salaries match and the Suns have been looking to move Marion, as he has requested a trade before the season started. But, that’s where the trade stops making sense. Marion has played well for the Suns, yes, his points per game are down, but so are his minutes. His field goal percentage (.526) has been consistent for the past 3 years , as are his rebounds. Shaq, on the other hand is averaging a career low 14 points per game, 10 points lower than the career average (although his percentage hasn’t changed). Rebounds… down.

The Miami Heat have changed the team for the better. They must have a game plan, if they hope to resign Dwayne Wade. With Marion as his new side-kick, Wade and the Heat are open to more of a …. Phoenix Suns running game?

As for the Suns, when Shaq is health, he will start at center and Amare Stoudemire will move to his preferred power forward position. Grant Hill will remain at the other forward spot and Steve Nash and Raja Bell will will be the guards. As mentioned, the Suns like to run, but now only 4 of the five will (where in the past the first 7 guys would run). Shaq will be following the play. For those that watch Shaq, he will not cross half before the Suns have put up 2 shots. I’m not sure how they make this work. Are they planning to have 2 attacks, one on the run and if that doesn’t work, wait for Shaq to walk up the floor?

The Miami Heat may add to their win total as a result of this trade, but they will not be making a push for the play-offs, even in the East. But they made this trade for the future, one less year on the contract and a younger healthier, more productive player.

Good job, Pat Riley.

Suns, please prove me wrong.

Episode 34 - The Tin Men (Are You Ready for Maggette?)

Toronto Raptors are 25-21

Week in Review

- loss to Washington 108-104
- win over Washington 122-83
- loss to LA Lakers – 121-101

Lakers deal Kwame Browne, Javaris Critlenton, 2 first round draft picks (2008 & 2010) and get Pau Gasol

Memphis also traded Stromile Swift to New Jersey for Jason Colins and cash

Last week, Memphis bought out Damon Stoudamire, who recently signed with San Antonio.

In College news, Bob Knight has resigned from Texas Tech, leaving his coaching career with 902 wins.

Coming up for the Raptors

- Tonight in Miami (9-36) - a little foreshadowing, as the Raptors win 114-82
- Friday LA Clippers (14-30)

Games Next week Minnesota, San Antonio and NJ.



Check out the player on the sidebar as it plays each show. A great tool. This week's show is posted here. Enjoy! - Oh, not sure why it sounds like we are sitting in a steal drum, but that's what happens when you let the sound engineer have the night off.... more promises of a better show next time will be posted here later.....

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