Top Ranked Duke Takes On Florida For The Phil Knight Invitational Championship

Top ranked Duke out of the Atlantic Coast  Conference will take on seventh ranked Florida out of the South Eastern Conference  who's head coach  is Mike White who is the son of  Director Of Athletics for Duke Kevin White.

As for how Duke got to the championship game, They needed overtime and had to rally  to beat unranked Texas.

Freshman Marvin Bagley had a career-high 34 points and added 15 rebounds, and No. 1 Duke rallied to defeat Texas 85-78 in overtime on Friday in the semifinals of the PK80 Invitational. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Gary Jr. added 17 points for the Blue Devils (7-0), who trailed by 16 points in the second half and were forced to play five freshmen once senior Grayson Allen  fouled out. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke advanced to play the winner of Friday night's late game between No. 7 Florida and No. 17 Gonzaga for the title on Sunday. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Dylan Osetkowski had 19 points and seven rebounds for Texas (4-1), which fell short of its first-ever victory over a top-ranked team. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Bagley made consecutive dunks to give the five-time NCAA champion Blue Devils a 78-73 lead in overtime. Andrew Jones' layup pulled Texas within 78-77 with 1:20 left. Wendell Carter's  put-back dunk pushed Duke's lead to 82-78 and Trent's free throws with 11 seconds left sealed the win. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Bagley tied the Blue Devils' freshman scoring record set by J.J. Reddick on Jan. 15, 2003, against Virginia."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Bagley's short jumper tied it at 70 and put the Duke fans in the crowd on their feet. Allen fouled out with 2 minutes left in regulation and Kerwin Roach II dunked to put Texas back in front 72-70. "according to .http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Trent made a layup and his free throw gave Duke a 73-72 lead with 32.8 seconds left. Coleman made a free throw on the other end to re-tie it but missed the second and the game went to overtime. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The tournament celebrates Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke and Texas were in the Motion Bracket, playing Friday at the Moda Center, home of the Portland Trail Blazers. Teams in the Victory Bracket played at the adjacent Memorial Coliseum. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Roach beat three defenders for a decisive dunk that gave Texas a 42-29 lead and the Longhorns led 43-31 at the break. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

It was the fifth meeting between the teams and Duke has won all of them. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

BIG PICTURE

Duke: Bagley is the first Duke freshman to have five double-doubles over his first seven games. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Texas: Kemba Hepa, a senior power forward at Portland's Jefferson High School, committed to Texas this past week. The four-star recruit also considered Gonzaga. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

AGAINST No. 1: Texas had faced a No. 1-ranked opponent nine previous times, with a 0-9 record. The most recent meeting was on Feb. 29, 2016, when the Longhorns lost 86-56 to No. 1 Kansas. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687030&DB_OEM_ID=4200

As for how Florida got to the championship game like Duke they needed overtime except there was one difference it took double overtime for them to beat Gonzaga.

Eight months ago, Chris Chiozza played in a basketball game the Florida senior point guard rates as the all-time favorite of his lifetime. You might recall it. Chiozza, his arms and chest in pain and packed in ice, thought about that game on the bus ride from Moda Center back to the team hotel early Friday morning. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

He smiled. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

"This one is now my second favorite," Chiozza said. "according tohttp://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

There will be thousands of college games across the country between now and next April, but they all will be hard-pressed to match the furious back-and-forth and high-level brand of basketball that played out between No. 7 UF and No. 17 Gonzaga in second-round action of the PK80 Invitational. Simply put, it was spectacular athletic theater, and ultimately one of the great victories in the history of the Florida program."according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

UF junior swingman Jalen Hudson  scored a career-high 35 points, all but four coming after halftime, to lead the Gators past the reigning NCAA runner-up Bulldogs and their profound home court advantage in a 111-105 double-overtime classic before a mostly Zag-clad crowd of 14,274. Chiozza had a career-high 26 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in 46 brutal minutes, with 14 of his points coming after regulation. Junior shooting guard KeVaugn Allen , who also logged 46 minutes, added 23 points, including 11 free throws in as many attempts, plus five assists. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

In the end, it was a marathon battle of wills — with 17 lead changes, 11 ties and a 39-point outburst from Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams, who hit an astonishing 16 of 22 shots  — but the team that came from 2,900 miles away was the one that persevered and outlasted the one from Spokane, Wash., five hours to the north."according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

"Such an emotional long game," a drained UF coach Mike White  said in a post-game press conference that began at 2:51 a.m. EST. "I'm still young at this. I don't know where to start. Crazy game, and just really proud to have been a part of it." "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men
 

Coach Mike White gives senior point guard Chris Chiozza a post-game squeeze after he scored a career-high 26 points and dished 10 assists in Friday night's double-overtime classic. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

He was definitely glad the guy sitting to his right, Hudson, was part of it. The 6-foot-6 transfer from Virginia Tech, went 11-for-20 from the floor and 8-for-12 from the 3-point line, including a pair of treys in the second overtime. Chiozza also had a 3-pointer in that period, as well as a conventional 3-point play, after suffering a bruises to the ribs that had him gasping for air on the UF bench in the game's frantic final moments. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

But in a hostile environment and atmosphere that felt an awful lot like March (minus the "neutral-site" crowd), Chiozza soldiered through and willed the Gators to victory."according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

They all did.

"We just had to fight and keep fighting," Hudson said. "Coach White kept saying, 'It's just us! It's just us! That's it!' So we fought and never stopped.""according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

In doing so, the Gators (5-0) secured themselves a spot in the championship game of the PK80 Motion bracket, a reward that will get them a late Sunday night showdown with No. 1-ranked Duke (7-0). First, though, UF will get Saturday off to rest and maybe process — and appreciate — what happened to get them there. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

"Great, great basketball game. Just epic," said Gonzaga coach Mark Few, whose team lost to North Carolina in the 2017 NCAA title game. "We had our chances to win it and didn't get it done. They hit some big shots and got it done. It wasn't because of a lack of effort on our part or lack of execution on our part or anything like that. They just won." "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

And the Gators did it with leading scorer Egor Koulechove  turning stone-cold. Koulechov, the transfer from Rice, came into the game averaging 21.8 points per game, shooting 49.2 percent overall and a staggering 56 percent from 3. The one known as "3gor," though, went just 1-for-9 and finished with four points. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

"It just shows how tough we are and how deep we are," said Koulechov, who chipped in with nine rebounds, four assists and a couple steals. "I know I didn't shoot it well, but I could not be happier for this team right now. We beat a great team in a great game." "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men
 

KeVaughn Allen's driving reverse layup with 22 seconds left tied the game at 78 and forced overtime. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

The Bulldogs led by four points with two minutes remaining in regulation, when the Gators flipped the scoreboard with a Hudson 3 and two free throws from Chiozza to go up 76-75 with 1:06 to go. Gonzaga, though, went back up by two when standout point guard Josh Perkins (17 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) converted a 3-point play with 40.1 seconds left. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Allen answered for UF with a hard-driving, reverse lefty layup with 28 seconds to go to make it 78-all. That score stood to the final horn when a wide-open 3-point shot by Silas Melson (12 points, 5 assists) hit the back iron, as the Florida sideline collapsed in relief. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

"They're a great team, with great coach, that's tough, disciplined and plays hard," Chiozza aid. "We knew we were going to have to battle the whole game." "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Plus 10 minutes more. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men
 

Hudson went 11-for-20 from the floor, with many of his shots contested by Gonzaga's excellent defense. Didn't matter. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

The first five-minute overtime had five lead changes and ended with a fourth tie of the period. Along the way, Chiozza's 3-point play fouled out Perkins with 8.3 seconds left and the Gators ahead 95-93. But Melson then drove through the Florida defense, banked in a layup to tie the game and was fouled with 1.8 seconds left. Melson had a free throw, basically, to win the game, but bounced it. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Both teams scored 17 points in the period."according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

UF opened the second overtime with an 8-2 flurry, thanks to back-to-back 3-balls from Hudson and Chiozza. Zach Norvell Jr.'s driving layup made it a four-point game, but Hudson again drilled a 3 for a seven-point lead, and the Gators took it home from there at the free-throw line, where they went 28 of 35 for the game, including 22 of their final 24. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Florida had 16 points in that period. The Gators had 29 total in the first half, when they went to the locker room down seven. No one could have predicted the 30 minutes that would follow. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

"We had several opportunities to fold," White said. "But our guys were extremely resilient and tough, and I thought made some big strides in those departments." "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Florida, for the second straight night, faced a difficult size disadvantage and it showed up as Gonzaga had a 52-24 scoring advantage in the paint, with the 6-9 Williams having his way on the block with whoever the Gators sent at him. UF, though, cancelled things out by shooting nearly 46 percent for the game and draining 17 of 36 shots from deep (47.2 percent). "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Again, so much for size. "according tohttp://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

"They were definitely bigger than us," Hudson said. "But the way we looked at it, they had to guard us too. We have guys who can shoot the ball." "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Guys that don't quit, also. "according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Chiozza is one of those guys. He already knew a little bit about fighting to the finish when adversity strikes. Anyone remember? Now, he knows even more.
http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men
"That was a lot of fun," he said. "according to

Second-best (sore ribs and all) never felt so good."according to http://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/25/chris-harry-florida-stares-down-gonzaga-in-epic-pk80-double-ot-win.aspx?path=basketball-men

Tip-off is set for 10:30pm. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726