University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels To Play Portland In 1st Round Of PK80
May 31, 2017 | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL—The University of North Carolina will play the University of Portland in the opening round of the “Victory Bracket” on Thanksgiving Day in PK80 presented by State Farm, a 16-team, three-day men's basketball tournament in Portland, Ore., that honors Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday.
The Tar Heels and Pilots will play in the afternoon session on Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) at the Moda Center (formerly the Rose Garden), the NBA home of the Portland Trailblazers.
Carolina will face either Arkansas or Oklahoma on Friday, Nov. 24, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum (the former home of the Trailblazers), and either Connecticut, Georgetown, Michigan State or Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 26 (venue TBA).
In addition to UNC/Portland, the first round matchups in the “Victory” bracket are: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma, Georgetown vs. Michigan State and UConn vs. Oregon.
The “Motion” bracket includes the following first round games: Duke vs. Portland State, Butler vs. Texas, Florida vs. Stanford and Gonzaga vs. Ohio State.
Two champions – one from each bracket – will be determined.
The field includes teams that have combined to win 24 NCAA championships, including 10 of the last 14 winners (Carolina in 2005, 2009 and 2017). The Tar Heels are joined in the field by Oregon and Gonzaga, who UNC beat in the national semifinals and national championship game, respectively, this past April in the 2017 Final Four in Phoenix.
ESPN networks will televise all games from Portland.
Carolina and Portland will be playing for the first time.
