Kristian Ferrell
The PK80, or the Phil Knight Invitational, was a college basketball tournament held in Portland, Oregon, from November 23-26, 2017, to honour Nike co-founder Phil Knight before his 80th birthday. The event, which was one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever, featured 16 teams, including some of college basketball's elite, such as Duke, North Carolina, and Michigan State. The teams were divided into two eight-team brackets, the Victory and Motion Brackets, with two bracket champions crowned: Michigan State and Duke. The tournament was a huge success, with a festive, communal basketball feel, and was deemed the best in-season tournament ever due to the quality of the teams involved.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 23-26 November 2017 |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Venues | Moda Center, Memorial Coliseum, Nashville Municipal Auditorium |
| Teams | 16 |
| Team Examples | Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Stanford |
| Brackets | Victory, Motion |
| Bracket Champions | Michigan State (Victory), Duke (Motion) |
| Purpose | Honouring Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday |
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What You'll Learn
- The PK80 tournament was held to celebrate Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday
- The 16-team tournament included college basketball elites such as Duke, UNC, and Gonzaga
- The event was one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever held
- The tournament was played at Portland's Moda Center and Memorial Coliseum
- The tournament format featured two eight-team brackets, the Victory and Motion Brackets
The PK80 tournament was held to celebrate Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday
The PK80 tournament, formally known as the Phil Knight Invitational, was held from November 23-26, 2017, in Portland, Oregon, to celebrate Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday. The event was one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever, featuring 16 teams with some of college basketball's elite players.
The tournament was hosted at the Moda Center and Memorial Coliseum, with teams divided into two separate brackets: the Victory and Motion Brackets. The Victory bracket featured prominent teams such as Michigan State, Georgetown, and North Carolina, while the Motion bracket included Duke, Gonzaga, and Florida, among others. The tournament format ensured that each team played three games before the bracket champions were crowned, with all games televised on ESPN's family of networks.
The PK80 tournament was not just about the basketball; it was also a celebration of Phil Knight's impact on the community and the world of sports. Knight, a co-founder of Nike, has had a tremendous impact on Portland and the business landscape, with Nike providing employment and contributing to the local community. The tournament also showcased Knight's connection to some of the greatest athletes of the past 30 years, with the potential for celebrity cameos.
The event was a huge success, with Oregon coach Dana Altman calling it an "excellent way to celebrate Phil Knight." Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski also praised the tournament, noting that it was a unique way to honor Knight's contributions to basketball and all of sports. The PK80 Invitational was more than just a basketball tournament; it was a festive, communal event that brought together some of the best teams and athletes in the sport to honor a true icon.
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The 16-team tournament included college basketball elites such as Duke, UNC, and Gonzaga
The PK80, or the Phil Knight Invitational, was a 16-team tournament that included some of college basketball's elite teams, such as Duke, UNC, and Gonzaga. The tournament was held in Portland, Oregon, from November 23 to 26, 2017, to honour Nike co-founder Phil Knight before his 80th birthday.
Duke, UNC, and Gonzaga are all college basketball powerhouses, consistently ranking among the top programs in the nation. The tournament also featured other elite teams, including Arkansas, Butler, Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Portland, Portland State, Stanford, and Texas. These teams boasted talented players and coaches and were expected to put on a show for fans.
Duke, in particular, stood out as a favourite to win the tournament. With players like Grayson Allen, who was averaging 21.8 points per game and shooting 53.1% from the 3-point line, they posed a significant threat. UNC, meanwhile, led a pack of ten participants ranked among the top 50 winningest programs in Division I history. Gonzaga, fresh off a strong showing in the West Coast Conference tournament, also had a large contingent of fans expected to attend the PK80.
The PK80 tournament was significant not only because of the high calibre of teams involved but also because it honoured Phil Knight, who has had a profound impact on college basketball and sports in general. Knight, a Nike co-founder and University of Oregon alumni, was celebrated for his contributions to the sport and his influence on the community of Portland. The tournament was billed as one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever, with nine of the past 13 NCAA champions participating.
The 16-team format of the PK80 provided a unique opportunity for these elite college basketball teams to face tough competition and build their NCAA Tournament résumés. With each team playing three games, the tournament offered a glimpse into the state of the teams early in the season and provided a platform for standout players to shine. The PK80 was a tremendous success, with coaches and participants praising the event for its high level of competition and the honour of celebrating Phil Knight's legacy.
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The event was one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever held
The PK80, or the Phil Knight Invitational, was a 16-team college basketball tournament held in Portland, Oregon, from November 23 to 26, 2017. The event was organised to honour Nike co-founder and University of Oregon alumni Phil Knight on his 80th birthday.
The tournament was billed as one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever, with nine of the past 13 NCAA champions participating. The field included powerhouses like Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State, Gonzaga, and more. The teams were divided into two eight-team brackets: the Victory Bracket and the Motion Bracket. Each team played three games before the bracket champions, Michigan State and Duke, were crowned.
The tournament was a huge success, with a festive and communal basketball atmosphere. The location, in and around Portland, was chosen due to Knight's impact on the community and the presence of Nike. The proximity of the Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum venues allowed for a convenient tournament experience, with players from opposing teams often crossing paths.
The PK80 was an eagerly anticipated event, with ESPN providing 80 reasons to care about the tournament. It delivered on the hype, with exciting individual performances like Trae Young's standout showing for Oklahoma and Marvin Bagley III's return from injury for Duke. The event had an NCAA Tournament vibe with a travel tournament flavour, and many considered it the best in-season tournament ever due to the quality of the teams involved.
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The tournament was played at Portland's Moda Center and Memorial Coliseum
The PK80 tournament, formally known as the Phil Knight Invitational, was played at two venues in Portland, Oregon: the Moda Center and Memorial Coliseum. The tournament was held to honour Nike co-founder and University of Oregon alumni Phil Knight before his 80th birthday.
The Moda Center, located in the Rose Quarter of Portland, is a major sports and entertainment arena. It is the home of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. The venue boasts a seating capacity of over 19,000 for basketball games and features various amenities, including luxury suites, clubs, and lounges. The Moda Center has hosted numerous notable events, including NBA playoffs, concerts, and other sporting competitions.
Memorial Coliseum, also known as Veterans Memorial Coliseum, is another prominent arena in Portland. It is situated in the Rose Quarter, just a short distance from the Moda Center. With a capacity of approximately 12,000 for basketball games, Memorial Coliseum has a rich history and has been the site of many memorable sporting events and concerts. The venue is known for its unique architecture and has undergone renovations to enhance its facilities.
Both venues played a significant role in hosting the PK80 tournament, accommodating the 16 participating teams and their fans. The tournament was organised by ESPN Events and billed as one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever, showcasing nine of the past 13 NCAA champions. The event celebrated Phil Knight's impact on college basketball and his contributions to the University of Oregon and the broader sports community.
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The tournament format featured two eight-team brackets, the Victory and Motion Brackets
The PK80 Invitational, or the Phil Knight Invitational, was a 16-team tournament that featured some of college basketball's elite teams. The tournament format featured two eight-team brackets, the Victory and Motion Brackets, with each team playing three games before the two bracket champions were crowned.
In an eight-team bracket, there are a total of three rounds. Four teams are eliminated in the first round, two in the second, and the remaining two teams face off in the third round. The team with the best record is the number one seed, and the team with the worst record is the eighth seed. The number one seed plays the eighth seed, the second seed plays the seventh, and so on. The idea is for the number one seed to compete against the number two seed in the final. However, there could be upsets along the way, with lower-ranked seeds beating higher-ranked seeds.
The Victory and Motion Brackets of the PK80 featured some of the top teams in college basketball, including Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State, and Gonzaga. The Victory Bracket included a matchup between Michigan State and North Carolina, while the Motion Bracket featured a matchup between Duke and Gonzaga, creating a Final Four-like pairing on both sides.
The PK80 tournament was an excellent showcase of college basketball talent and a unique way to honor Nike co-founder and University of Oregon alumni Phil Knight on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
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Frequently asked questions
The PK80, or the Phil Knight Invitational, is a college basketball tournament that was held to honour Nike co-founder Phil Knight before his 80th birthday.
The PK80 tournament was held in Portland, Oregon, from 23-26 November 2017.
The PK80 tournament was a 16-team tournament featuring some of college basketball's elite teams. It was one of the largest regular-season invitational tournaments ever, including nine of the past 13 NCAA champions.
