hoop dreams

Austin's own Toros are ready for the playoffs after record-breaking season

Carldell Johnson of the Austin Toros.

Austin Toros

After completing the season with a club record 33 wins, the Austin Toros (San Antonio Spurs) are set to begin the first round NBA Development League playoffs against the Erie Bayhawks (New York Knicks) Thursday at Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.

As the D-League playoff format allows the division winner to choose their opponent, the third-seeded Toros left the decision to chance by literally pulling the Bayhawks' name out of a hat. The Toros had a choice between the Bayhawks and the Bakersfield Jam who had identical season records of 28-22. While the series starts in Erie, the Toros will have the opportunity to close out the first round of the playoffs on their own turf since they have home court advantage in the best-of-three game series.

The Austin Toros are the first professional basketball team to make Austin their home. The club relocated to the Cedar Park Center last season after playing in the Austin Convention Center since 2005, when the Columbus Riverdragons first moved the club to Austin and renamed them the Toros. In 2007, the San Antonio Spurs acquired the Toros, and Austin became the second franchise to be owned by an NBA team after the Los Angeles Lakers bought the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

The Erie Bayhawks are the New York Knicks D-League affiliate. The Bayhawks are a 2008-2009 D-Leauge expansion team whose name is a reference to Presque Isle Bay, where Erie is located. Former Knicks star and current Assistant General Manager became Director of Basketball Operations for Erie when the teams entered into a hybrid, exclusive three-year deal this season. Previously the Bayhawks were shared affiliations with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors.

"We put both names (Erie and Bakersfield) in a hat and pulled it out," Toros coach Brad Jones said. "After we did all the research, we felt like all the teams were very, very similar and we couldn't figure out any angle except to put two names in a hat and pull one out," Jones continued.

"I'm not a big fan of choosing your opponent," Bayhawks coach Jay Larranaga said. "I like the tradition where the first place team plays the eighth-place team. I think the playoffs are interesting enough without adding this thing that we do."

In their only match-up during the regular season, the Toros handily defeated Erie, 111-88 on January 10 at the D-League Showcase in Reno, Nevada.

"Austin had been one of the top two teams in the league the entire year," Larranaga said.

The Toros have a potent, balanced attack with 10 players averaging double figures. The offense was led this season by guard Justin Dentmon who finished the year ninth in scoring in the league. He and Carldell Johnson combined to average nearly 12 assists a game on the season. Dentmon was called up to the NBA by the Toronto Raptors on April 6.

The Toros will host a watch party for the first game of the series being played in Erie at Big Daddy’s on Thursday starting at 5:30 pm. Fans can also catch the game on Futurecast, the free live web-streaming hub for all D-League games.

The Toros will host TJ Ford Night on Sunday during Game Two when the series moves to Cedar Park. Ford is a former University of Texas star who lead the Longhorns to their first NCAA Final Four since 1947 during the 2001-2002 college basketball season.

Fans attending can enter to win autographed Ford Longhorn and Spurs jerseys, and take part in a post-game autograph session with Ford and Toros player, Cory Joseph who has been reassigned to the club after a stint with the Spurs earlier in the season.

The Toros have asked fans to wear white to support the team at their game on Sunday. The first 500 fans to enter the Cedar Park Center will receive a free playoff t-shirt courtesy of Austin Cab.

Austin Toros (33-17) vs. Erie Bayhawks (28-22)

Game 1: Austin @ Erie — Thursday, April 12th 7 pm ET

Game 2: Erie @ Austin — Sunday, April 15th 4 pm ET

Game 3: Erie @ Austin — Monday, April 16th 8:30 pm ET (*game played if necessary)

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Playoff tickets for Round One games in Austin are available by calling the Toros office at (512) 236-8333 or visiting austintoros.com. Tickets start as low as $5.

Carldell Johnson of the Austin Toros.

Austin Photo Set: News_Greg_austin toros_april 2012_carldell johnson

Austin Toros

Carldell Johnson of the Austin Toros.

Tailgating with the stars

Meet UT Longhorns legend Vince Young at CultureMap's Tailgate party

Vince Young scoring winning touchdown in 2006 National Championship Game

Photo courtesy of 973espn.com

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CultureMap is making final preparations for The Tailgate presented by Verizon, our all-out celebration of Austin sports and the fans who cheer for them. Taking place at Distribution Hall on December 12, it will be an evening of food and fun that combines the best parts of tailgating with the cool vibe readers have come to expect of a CultureMap event.

Attendees who treat themselves to VIP tickets will get a variety of perks, including early access to the event, valet parking, and a dedicated VIP bar. As a special bonus, they'll also get a personal meet-and-greet with University of Texas football icon Vince Young.

Young is widely celebrated for his tenure as a quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, from 2002-2005, and regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NCAA history. He earned the prestigious Davey O'Brien Award, finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, and led the Longhorns to a thrilling BCS National Championship victory over USC at the 2006 Rose Bowl. Texas retired Young’s jersey in 2008, and he went on to be a star quarterback in the NFL for six seasons.

According to Sporting News, Young spends much of his time in retirement on the golf course, hanging out at his Vince Young Steakhouse in Austin, and supporting his alma mater by attending UT Longhorns' games and practices.

Attendees of The Tailgate will enjoy a range of experiences showcasing local sports and local food. Some of Austin's hottest restaurants will be serving game day-inspired bites, including Golden Hour, Phoebe's Diner, Honey Moon Spirit Lounge, Industry East Side, The Loren Hotel Austin / Nido, Postino, The Dirdie Birdie, Victory Lap, Thunder Chief, and Ramen Tatsu-Ya.

Don't forget to vote for your favorite wings in our bracket-style Ultimate Wing Showdown; the winner will be announced at the event.

Attendees can expect more revelry, games, and prizes courtesy of our event sponsors and local vendors, including Verizon, HOWDY, EIGHT Beer, Houston Powder Coaters, and more.

Verizon and CultureMap are even giving away a VIP trip for two to Super Bowl LIX*. More details on how to enter here for a chance to win. To get into the spirit, Verizon and their Super Bowl bus will host a special appearance from a surprise celebrity athlete at Tailgate. (Who will it be??? Such suspense!)

Read more about The Tailgate here, and follow all the details in our special editorial series.

Tickets for The Tailgate are $75 for VIP and $50 for general admission. For a limited time, we’re giving you $15 off all tickets; use code VINCE at checkout. Get your tickets now.

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The Tailgate is presented by Verizon and sponsored by HOWDY, Houston Powder Coaters, EIGHT Beer, and more to be announced.

*The NFL Entities shall have no liability or responsibility for any claim arising in connection with participation in this sweepstakes or any prize awarded. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored this sweepstakes in any way.

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