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In this week’s episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. They also discuss the early retirement of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland and what effect, if any, his decision will have on other NFL players. Finally, writer Andrew Miller joins the show for a conversation about the present and future of the Cricket World Cup.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:

• The first Thursday of the tournament featured a record number of one-point games.
• Georgia State coach Ron Hunter had the best week of his life.
• Wichita State beat its in-state rival Kansas in a game the Shockers had long been waiting for.
• Grantland’s Brian Phillips on how college basketball is at once exciting and dreadful.
• Wisconsin’s players, particularly Nigel Hayes, are obsessed with the press conference stenographer.
• The San Francisco 49ers’ Chris Borland retired at age 24 due to concerns about head trauma.
• Slate’s Daniel Engber on the relative risks to football players’ brains and bodies.
• Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says Borland’s retirement “creates [a] new challenge for scouts.”
• Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman/mathematician John Urschel explains why he still plays football.
• Follow Andrew Miller on Twitter.
• The MCC Museum is home to a murdered cricket sparrow.
• Cricket’s big four of Australia, India, South Africa, and New Zealand have reached the semifinals of the Cricket World Cup.
• The number of teams in the World Cup will likely be reduced from 14 to 10.
• England lost in humiliating fashion.
• New Zealand’s Martin Guptill had the batting performance of the tournament thus far.

Hang Up and Listen’s weekly Jahangir Khans:

Mike’s Jahangir Khan: Why are Nigerian Americans so successful in sports?

Stefan’s Jahangir Khan: Looking back at Chuck Bednarik’s famous hit on Frank Gifford.

Josh’s Jahangir Khan: Saying goodbye to the most-hated man in tennis.

On this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the best strategy for watching the NCAA Tournament and preventing basketball overload. Slate Plus members get an ad-free version of this podcast with bonus segments. Visit slate.com/hangupplus and try it free for two weeks.

Podcast production and edit by Mike Vuolo.

You can email us at hangup@slate.com.