Mega-tournament to honor Nike's Knight nearly finalized

Phil Knight's 80th birthday will be worth celebrating for college basketball fans.

ESPN reported Michigan State, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgetown, Connecticut, Stanford and Ohio State are among the 16 programs sponsored by Nike who are committed to playing in a two-tournament event in November 2017.

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said it was a way for the programs to reciprocate the support they've received over the years from Knight, who turns 80 on Feb. 24, 2018. The tournaments would take place in Portland, Ore., over four days.

Butler, Florida, Gonzaga, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Xavier would also be in the event field.