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Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Nike schools commit to event
Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis may have pulled off his greatest scheduling coup.
Hollis told ESPN.com on Thursday that he has secured commitments from 16 schools to participate in a two-tournament men's basketball event in honor of Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday.The two tournaments, each consisting of eight teams, would take place in Portland, Ore. during a four-day period in November 2017. Knight's 80th birthday is Feb. 24, 2018.
This event would have more collective star power than any of the previous tournaments played at Maui, New York, Orlando or the Bahamas. The 16 Nike-sponsored schools -- mostly elite programs -- include Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina.
Hollis said he has commitments from schools representing all of college basketball's power conferences. NCAA rules prohibit schools from the same conference playing in the same event, hence the two eight-team tournaments.
The other schools are Florida, Ohio State, Connecticut, Georgetown, Texas, Oklahoma, Stanford, Oregon, Xavier, Butler, Gonzaga and Portland.
"All of these great basketball programs have been supported by Phil Knight and Nike," Hollis said. "His support of the programs have created scholarships and resources for these departments to excel."
Hollis said the event isn't driven by Knight or Nike, but rather by the schools' athletic directors who want to express their thanks. He also acknowledged that there are a few potential factors that could derail the current list of teams in the next five years -- a change in sneaker sponsorship or conference affiliation, for example.
Entire article: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8274359/nike-schools-commit-16-team-mega-event-honor-phil-knight
Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis may have pulled off his greatest scheduling coup.
Hollis told ESPN.com on Thursday that he has secured commitments from 16 schools to participate in a two-tournament men's basketball event in honor of Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday.The two tournaments, each consisting of eight teams, would take place in Portland, Ore. during a four-day period in November 2017. Knight's 80th birthday is Feb. 24, 2018.
This event would have more collective star power than any of the previous tournaments played at Maui, New York, Orlando or the Bahamas. The 16 Nike-sponsored schools -- mostly elite programs -- include Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina.
Hollis said he has commitments from schools representing all of college basketball's power conferences. NCAA rules prohibit schools from the same conference playing in the same event, hence the two eight-team tournaments.
The other schools are Florida, Ohio State, Connecticut, Georgetown, Texas, Oklahoma, Stanford, Oregon, Xavier, Butler, Gonzaga and Portland.
"All of these great basketball programs have been supported by Phil Knight and Nike," Hollis said. "His support of the programs have created scholarships and resources for these departments to excel."
Hollis said the event isn't driven by Knight or Nike, but rather by the schools' athletic directors who want to express their thanks. He also acknowledged that there are a few potential factors that could derail the current list of teams in the next five years -- a change in sneaker sponsorship or conference affiliation, for example.
Entire article: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8274359/nike-schools-commit-16-team-mega-event-honor-phil-knight
