Oregon Ducks men's basketball open Phil Knight Invitational vs. No. 20 Connecticut Huskies

Chris Hansen, Register-Guard
·2 min read
Oregon coach Dana Altman, center, gathers his team before their game against then-No. 3 Houston at Matthew Knight Arena Nov. 20.
Oregon coach Dana Altman, center, gathers his team before their game against then-No. 3 Houston at Matthew Knight Arena Nov. 20.

The Oregon men's basketball team needs to get on track after opening the season with two losses in their first four games.

Unfortunately for the Ducks, who fell to No. 2 Houston Monday night, the schedule isn't getting much easier.

Oregon is in Portland this week for the Phil Knight Invitational, an eight-team tournament Thursday, Friday and Sunday at three different venues — Moda Center, Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Chiles Center on the University of Portland campus.

The Ducks (2-2), who are unranked after starting the season at No. 21, open tournament play against No. 20 Connecticut (5-0) at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving at the Moda Center.

Their game Friday will be either No. 12 Michigan State or No. 18 Alabama with a potential game against No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday. Also in the bracket are Portland, Iowa State and Villanova.

Every team gets three games.

“We’ve got a tough stretch coming up," Oregon coach Dana Altman said following his team's 66-56 loss to the Cougars at Matthew Knight Arena.

It doesn't end this weekend, as the Ducks open Pac-12 play at home against Washington State Dec. 1 and then at No. 19 UCLA Dec. 4.

There will also be the Phil Knight Legacy tournament happening at the same time in Portland, with an eight-team bracket that includes Oregon State, No. 6 Gonzaga, No. 8 Duke, No. 24 Purdue, Xavier, Florida, West Virginia and Portland State.

Phil Knight Invitational in Portland

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

  • Game 1: No. 1 North Carolina vs. Portland, 10 a.m., Moda Center (ESPN)

  • Game 2: Iowa State vs. Villanova, 12:30 p.m., Moda Center (ESPN2)

  • Game 3: Oregon vs. No. 20 UConn, 5 p.m., Moda Center (ESPN2)

  • Game 4: No. 18 Alabama vs. No. 12 Michigan State, 7:30 p.m., Moda Center (ESPN2)

  • Game 5 consolation: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon, Memorial Coliseum (ESPN2)

  • Game 6 semifinal: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m., Memorial Coliseum (ESPN)

  • Game 7 semifinal: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m., Memorial Coliseum (ESPN)

  • Game 8 consolation: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 9 p.m., Memorial Coliseum (ESPN2)

SUNDAY

  • Championship game: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m., Moda Center (ESPN)

  • Third place game: Game 6 loser vs. Game 7 loser, 12:30 p.m., Memorial Coliseum (ESPN)

  • Fifth place game: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 winner, TBD

  • Seventh place game: Game 5 loser vs. Game 8 loser, TBD

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. 

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This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Ducks set to face UConn at Phil Knight Invitational