---

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (4-0) vs. #1 DUKE BLUE DEVILS (5-0)
PK80 Invitational Presented by State Farm
Thursday, November 23, 2017, 1:30 p.m. • Memorial Coliseum (12,000), Portland, OR
Television: ESPN • Play-by-play: Dan Shulman • Analyst: Jay Bilas
Live Stats: www.statbroadcast.com/events/tournament.php?tid=689
Complete notes and stats in pdf
PK80 Tournament Brackets

---

THE OPENING TIP
If you get a chance to play in the most prestigious in-season college basketball tournament ever devised, you might as well play the very the best team, right?
           
Well, the Portland State Vikings (4-0) will have that chance when they open the PK80 Invitational on Thursday afternoon against the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils (5-0) at Memorial Coliseum. Both teams go into the contest undefeated, but Duke carries with it the ranking and the prestige of a five-time national-champion program. It marks the first time in PSU basketball history that it has faced a number-one ranked program (PSU has twice faced number two, including Duke in 1997).
           
Portland State takes part in the 16-team PK80 Invitational over the course of Thanksgiving weekend. The Vikings will play Friday at either noon or 2:30 against either Butler or Texas in the Moda Center. A Sunday contest will pit PSU against one of four teams - Florida, Stanford, Gonzaga or Ohio State - at either the Coliseum or Moda Center at a time to be determined. The combined records of the teams competing in Portland State's bracket (the Motion Bracket) are 28-3, with six of the eight teams currently undefeated.
           
Besides Duke, other nationally-ranked programs taking part in PK80's two tournament brackets include fourth-ranked Michigan State, seventh-ranked Florida, ninth-ranked North Carolina and 17th-ranked Gonzaga. Five members of last year's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and three of the Final Four participants are included in the brackets. 
           
Portland State and Duke bring similar numbers into the game as the Vikings average 92.0 points per game and the Blue Devils are at 90.8. Both teams emphasize pressure and rebounding as well. The Vikings are out-boarding opponents by 5.8 per game, while Duke has maintained a +12.6 advantage.
           
Portland State's game with Duke will be the third in a stretch of five games in nine days for the Vikings. So far, PSU won a road contest at UC Riverside (94-82) on Saturday, then beat Utah State at the Coliseum on Monday (83-79).
           
The Vikings will be in the Coliseum again when they face Duke. Though this will be a neutral site game, Portland State has used Memorial Coliseum as an occasional home court over the past 22 seasons, but Monday marked the first time since Mar. 5, 2005 it had done so. PSU is 19-6 when using the Coliseum as its home court at Division I and as a member of The Big Sky Conference (1996 to present). Memorial Coliseum was also an occasional home court for Portland State basketball during the 1970s (PSU did not have a men's basketball program from 1981-96).
           
After two weekends of play, the Vikings are the only remaining undefeated team in the Big Sky Conference. They can also boast the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week as announced on Tuesday. Senior guard Bryce Canda led the  Vikings to three wins over seven days, averaging 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists per game.
 
COMING UP
The Vikings take part in the PK80 Tournament at the Rose Quarter beginning this Thursday. PSU battles top-ranked Duke on Thanksgiving Day at the Coliseum. The Vikings then face either Butler or Texas on Friday at noon or 2:30 p.m. at Moda Center. Sunday's opponent, location and game time will be determined following Friday's game.  Among possible opponents are Ohio State, Stanford, Florida or Gonzaga.
           
Portland State's next home game is Dec. 2 against Portland Bible at Lewis and Clark College.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. DUKE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Duke won the only other meeting in the series between the schools, 89-39, at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 30, 1997. The Blue Devils were ranked second in the nation at the time of the game. The Vikings were beginning their second season since reinstating basketball and joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97 (PSU did not have a program from 1981-1996). That Duke team featured future NBA stars Elton Brand and Shane Battier among others.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE: Portland State's game with Duke 20 seasons ago marks the only time that the Viking program has faced a current member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery is in his first season on the Park Blocks... Blue Devils Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski is in his 38th season at Duke. He has a 1,003-271 career record and is 1-0 against Portland State. In 43 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Krzyzewski is 1,076-339.
 
DUKE BLUE DEVILS
• Duke is located in Durham, NC and is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. 
• The Blue Devils were 28-9 last season, 11-7 and tied for fifth in the ACC. Duke was a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the round of 32 before being beaten by Final Four participant South Carolina.
• This season Duke has rolled to a 5-0 start with wins over Elon, Utah Valley, Michigan State, Southern and Furman. 
• The Blue Devils have shot well from the field (.507), but not so well at the line (.617). They maintain a huge rebounding advantage over opponents (+12.6) and block 6.6 shots per contest. 
• Freshman forward Marvin Bagley III leads five Blue Devils scoring in double figures this season. He averages 19.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting .621 from the field.
• Senior guard Grayson Allen averages 18.4 points and 3.2 assists per game. He shoots .500 from three-point range (18-36) and .923 at the free throw line.
• Freshman guard Trevon Duval is averaging 7.6 assists and 2.4 steals to go with 13.6 points per game.
• Another freshman, forward Wendell Carter Jr. averages 2.8 blocks to go with 13.2 points per game.
 
POTENTIAL PK80 OPPONENTS
Butler (3-1)
Conference: Big East • 2016-17 Record: 25-9 • Conference Record/Finish: 12-6/2nd • All-Time Series: 0-0
 
Texas (3-0)
Conference: Big 12 • 2016-17 Record: 11-22 • Conference Record/Finish: 4-14/10th • All-Time Series: 0-0
 
#7 Florida (3-0)
Conference: Southeastern • 2016-17 Record: 27-9 • Conference Record/Finish: 14-4/2nd • All-Time Series: 0-0
 
Stanford (3-2)
Conference: Pac-12 • 2016-17 Record: 14-17 • Conference Record/Finish: 6-12/9th • All-Time Series: Stanford leads 2-0
 
#17 Gonzaga (3-0)
Conference: West Coast • 2016-17 Record: 37-2 •Conference Record/Finish: 17-1/1st • All-Time Series: Gonzaga leads 19-7
 
Ohio State (4-0)
Conference: Big Ten • 2016-17 Record: 17-15 • Conference Record/Finish: 7-11/t10th • All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 1-0
 
VIKINGS vs. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS
Portland State will play nationally-ranked Duke on Thursday - the first time PSU has ever played a number-one team. PSU seldom plays ranked teams tucked away in the northwest and members of the mid-major Big Sky Conference. PSU may play other ranked teams at PK80 (or later in the season).
• Portland State has never played a number-one ranked program but has twice played number two (Duke, 89-39 loss on Dec. 30, 1997; and UCLA, 69-48 loss on Nov. 9, 2007). 
• PSU has not played a nationally-ranked foe since a Nov. 25, 2012 game at #20 Oklahoma State (81-58 loss). 
• PSU's last win over a ranked opponent was an 86-82 victory at #25 Portland on Dec. 2, 2009. 
• The biggest win was a 77-70 victory at #7 Gonzaga on Dec. 23, 2008. 
• Since reinstating basketball for the 1996-97 season, Portland State has played 17 ranked opponents, going 2-15. 
 
CANDA NAMED BIG SKY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior guard Bryce Canda has led the Portland State Vikings to a 4-0 start heading into the PK80 Invitational Tournament this week. As a result, he has been named the Big Sky Conference Basketball Player of the Week.
           
In three wins over the past seven days, Canda averaged 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 21-41 from the field (.512) as the Vikings beat Willamette (111-60), UC Riverside (94-82) and Utah State (83-79). 
           
Canda had 20 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and four assists in the win at UCR, then 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists last night in a win over Utah State at Memorial Coliseum. 
           
The 6-4 guard from Portland's Grant High School is leading the Vikings in scoring (17.5), rebounding (8.0) and steals (3.8) this season. PSU's 4-0 start includes a season-opening win at Portland on Nov. 11. In that game Canda hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 34 seconds left, leading the Vikings to an 80-75 win.
           
The 4-0 mark is PSU's best start since going 4-0 in 2014-15 and leaves the Vikings as the only undefeated team in the Big Sky Conference.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 4-0 this season, 2-0 at home, 2-0 on the road.
• The Vikings were 15-16 in 2016-17, 10-3 at home, 4-12 on the road, 1-1 at neutral sites. Portland State won five straight early in the season (Dec. 13-29), the longest winning streak in eight seasons. The Vikings' longest losing streak of 2016-17 was four games.
Home Court(s)
• With the addition of Lewis and Clark's Pamplin Sports Center as a home court in 2017-18, Portland State has now had four home courts in its 22-season existence in the Big Sky Conference and at Division I. Here is the breakdown: 
  - Peter W. Stott Center - 233 games, 168-65
  - Rose Garden (Moda Center) - 28 games, 19-9
  - Memorial Coliseum - 19 games, 13-6
  - Lewis and Clark - 1 game, 1-0
  - 22 seasons - 281 games, 201-80 at home overall 
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 11 seasons (47-8). PSU is 26-8 against Division I schools, and 21-0 against lower division schools over that span.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 114-39 at home, including 65-32 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Vikings. Portland State is averaging 92.0 points per game, with five players averaging double figures.
• The Viking defense. Portland State has forced 91 turnovers in four games, converting them into 106 points. The Vikings made a school-record 22 steals against Willamette... Portland State is third in the nation in steals (12.3 per game).
• SR G Bryce Canda posted a career-high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals at UC Riverside. He followed that with 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists against Utah State. Canda leads the team in scoring (17.5), rebounding (8.0) and steals (3.3). He was also named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday.
• JR G Michael Mayhew scored a career-high 13 points, all in the first half, at UC Riverside as the Vikings built a 47-36 lead. He followed that game with another career-high in his first-ever start: 17 points, three assists and two steals in a win over Utah State.
• JR G Deante Strickland racked up a season-high seven assists against Utah State.
 
WHO IS NOT
• Portland State is 60-104 at the free throw line this season (.577).
• The Vikings were outrebounded for the first time this season against Utah State (39-34).
• SR G Deontae North sat out against Utah State with an ankle sprain. He is expected to return against Duke.
 
HUSTLE CHART: Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery has emphasized that his team's full-court pressure style of play will be about forcing turnovers, creating fast breaks and getting to the offensive glass. So far, mission accomplished. Here is a look at PSU's hustle chart through four games:
  • Offensive rebounds: 72 for 72 second chance points (18.0 per game)
  • Turnovers forced: 91 for 106 points (26.5 per game)
  • Fast break points: 58 (14.5 per game)
 
LEADERS OF THE PACK: Portland State's seniors have stepped up with strong play right out of the blocks. 
• SR G Bryce Canda leads the Vikings in scoring (17.5), rebounding (8.0) and steals (13)... he had a career-high 20 points at UC Riverside... Canda made a career-high six steals against Willamette... Canda leads the Big Sky in steals (3.3 per game) and was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week (11/21).
• SR G Deontae North is averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. 
• SR F Traylin Farris had a double-double in his first game (11 points, 12 rebounds, career-high four assists)... he averages 7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and shoots .583 from the field.
• SR F Brandon Hollins is averaging 8.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game off the bench... he grabbed a career-high 14 caroms against Willamette... Hollins is shooting .600 from the field (15-25) and has made both of his three-point attempts.
 
NEWCOMER NOTES: Portland State has had four new players play significant minutes, including two new starters, in 2017-18.
• JR G Deante Strickland has started at point guard, averaging 9.3 points while making 9-16 three-point field goals (.563)... Strickland had a season-high seven assists against Utah State.
• SR C Ryan Edwards starts in the middle, is averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and has made six blocked shots.
• FR G Holland Woods is averaging 29 minutes, 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists off the bench... Woods leads the Big Sky in assists.
• JR F Jamie Orme has played a total of 37 minutes in three games (missing one with injury), getting seven points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
IT'S A TEAM GAME: Portland State has had a total of 22 double-figure scorers through three games (5.4 per game)... five players are averaging in double figures and seven are averaging eight or more... nine players are averaging 12.3 or more minutes.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State is the only undefeated team in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings are leading the Big Sky in:
• Scoring, 92.0
• Scoring Margin, 18.0
• 3-pt FG Percentage, .412
• Assists, 17.5
• Steals, 12.3
• Turnover Margin, +6.2
• Offensive Rebounds, 18.0
• 3-pt FG Made, 10.5
 
PORTLAND STATE AMONG NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS:
Scoring Offense       T-28    92.0
Steals Per Game     3          12.3
Turnover Margin      27       6.3
PLAYERS (top 30)
Bryce Canda, Steals           11th    3.25
 
VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State is scheduled to have eight games televised in the Portland area this season, including three on the ESPN Networks as part of the PK80 Tournament over Thanksgiving weekend. It will be the most televised games since 11 were televised during the 2008-09 season. Included on this season's TV schedule are: Nov. 11 at Portland (NBCSNW), Nov. 23 vs. Duke (ESPN), Nov 24 and 26 (ESPN Networks, opponents TBA), Dec. 13 at Oregon (Pac-12), Dec. 21 at Cal (Pac-12), Jan. 6 at Idaho (Eleven Sports) and Feb. 24 at Northern Arizona (Fox College Sports Plus).
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• Nov. 11, PSU 80, Portland 75: Portland State scored the final 12 points of the game to pull out a come-form-behind win over Portland. The Vikings trailed 75-68 with 2:33 to go but forced two turnovers and four missed shots by the Pilots down the stretch. SR G Bryce Canda hit the big shot, a three-pointer with 34.3 seconds left, to give the Vikings a 78-75 lead. Canda led all scorers with 18 points. SR F Traylin Farris added 11 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high four assists.
• Nov. 14, PSU 111, Willamette 60: The Vikings set a school record with 22 steals in a win over Willamette. The Vikings forced 30 turnovers in all, turning them into 40 points. Seven players scored in double figures, led by SR G Deontae North's 19 points and seven assists. SR F Brandon Hollins had 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. SR G Bryce Canda added 15 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
• Nov. 18, PSU 94, UC Riverside 82: Portland State improved to 3-0 with a road at UC Riverside. The Vikings led for nearly 34 minutes, and UCR never got closer than seven points in the second half. SR G Bryce Canda scored a career-high 20 points to lead five Vikings in double figures. JR G Michael Mayhew scored a career-high 13 points off the bench. The Vikings forced 23 Highlander turnovers for 20 points. PSU is now 2-0 on the road.
• Nov. 20, PSU 83, Utah State 79: Portland State started strong, building an 18-point first half lead. But Utah State roared back to lead briefly in the second half. The Vikings forced nine Aggie turnovers in the last eight minutes of the game. SR G Bryce Canda and JR G Michael Mayhew, making his first career start, each scored 17 points as five players were in double figures. The win improved PSU to 4-0, 2-0 at home.
• Nov. 21, Canda Named Big Sky Conference Player Of The Week: In three wins over seven days, Canda averaged 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 21-41 from the field (.512) as the Vikings beat Willamette (111-60), UC Riverside (94-82) and Utah State (83-79).