The PK80-Phil Knight Invitational over the weekend was a "tremendous event, a huge success," as the Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum being next to each other "allowed for a convenient and cozy tournament atmosphere," according to Matt Norlander of CBSSPORTS.com. Michigan State AD Mark Hollis deserves "credit" because he "concocted the idea for all of this" back in '11. The tourney "needs to happen again," but it "won't be for at least three years." So if there is to be another PK80-type event, '20 is the "earliest we would see it," and '21 is "more realistic." Hollis is a "forward-thinking guy, and it would be shocking if he weren't at least debating how to get something like this done again" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/27). SB NATION's Mike Rutherford writes the top 10 tilts were a "satisfying cap on three days of basketball that fulfilled the wishes" of fans who have been "clamoring for an early season event like this for years." Now it is "time to fulfill that wish on an annual basis." While the PK80 was "supposed to be a one-time deal ... who says it has to be?" This is "how things work." The tourney "can only help strengthen the sport" (SBNATION.com, 11/27). In Portland, Ken Goe writes as an 80th birthday party for Knight, the event "was a pretty good show." The city "turned out, putting 15,365 in the Moda Center" for last night's championship session. The big crowd "seemed happy" with the finals from each bracket -- featuring No. 1 Duke, No. 4 Michigan State, No. 7 Florida and No. 9 North Carolina -- which is a "victory in itself." The PK80 "had some things to overcome" including the fact that the tournament "began on Thanksgiving Day, which is a tough conflict" (Portland OREGONIAN, 11/27).
NOT A MATTER OF IF: In Detroit, Chris Solari noted Hollis previously had said that this "would be a one-off venture, but he likes seeing how the tournament has been embraced by Portland." Hollis said that it could "take place in another community." But the "concept of taking 16 teams to one city is one Hollis thinks will endure." Hollis: "There definitely will be something else, it’s just a matter of what that something else is. ... There are a lot of communities that have two gyms and have a downtown like this. I think it’s worth looking at another site and seeing what can happen there" (DETROIT FREE PESS, 11/24).
THE FINAL SHOT: In Anchorage, Stephan Wiebe noted the final Great Alaska Shootout championship Saturday drew a crowd of "nearly 4,000 fans at the Alaska Airlines Center" for Central Michigan's win over Cal State-Bakersfield (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, 11/26). Also in Anchorage, Beth Bragg wrote the event for years "turned Anchorage into the center of the college basketball world for one week every year." But in the end, it "seemed like Shootout Lite." Mid-major teams "replaced the marquee teams." Crowds that "used to pack the Sullivan Arena dwindled drastically." The empty seats, more than anything, "made it clear it's time for the end" (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, 11/26).
BALLIN' AT THE BEACH: In Maui, Robery Collias noted the Notre Dame-Wichita State championship of the Maui Invitational "helped put a cap on a week that saw smaller crowds than usual at the event and had only three of 12 games decided by single-digit margins." Next year, Hawaii-based Chaminade will "sit out the Maui portion of the event for the first time ever, starting a cycle" of the school playing every two years. However, the school "gets the chance to play" at Arizona and San Diego State. Duke, Gonzaga, Auburn, Illinois, Iowa State and Xavier "will also play" in the event. Maui Invitational Chair Dave Odom said, "As far as the 2018 field, I really do think it’s star-studded, both from a coaching standpoint and a players standpoint. It’ll also be star-studded from a fan standpoint -- I expect it to maybe set some fan records next year. Attendance records I guess is a good way to put it and hopefully the Lahaina Civic Center can rise to the occasion -- I bet it will" (MAUI NEWS, 11/25).
