HONOLULU, Hawai'i – University of Portland basketball will be spending next Christmas in Hawai'i. The field for the 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic was announced on Friday and the Pilots will be one of eight teams at the event.

Portland and host Hawai'i will be joined by Ball State (Mid-American), Boise State (Mountain West), Georgia Tech (ACC), Houston (AAC), Portland (WCC), UTEP (Conference USA), and Washington (Pac-12).  The 11th annual event will be played at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. Dates and times will be announced at a later date.
 
Three teams in the 2019 field were a part of the postseason last season – Boise State (NIT), Houston (NCAA) and Washington (NIT). Meanwhile, five teams will make their first-ever appearance in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
 

• Ball State has earned a share of the Mid-American Conference West Division title two of the last three years.
   
• Boise State was selected to the 2018 Postseason NIT after reaching the 20-win mark for the sixth consecutive season.
   
• Georgia Tech has advanced to the postseason two of the last three seasons.  
   
• Hawai'i will host the tournament for the 11th straight year.
   
• Houston advanced to the Second Round of the 2018 NCAA Championship as a No. 6 seed.  
   
• Portland makes its first appearance in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, becoming the sixth member of the West Coast Conference to participate in the event
   
• UTEP will make its second appearance in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (2011).  
   
• Washington earned a berth in the 2018 Postseason NIT after posting a 20-win season in Coach Mike Hopkins' first year.

 
The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, an eight-team men's college basketball tournament, will feature 12 games through three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through the bracket. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in the championship game on the final day of the tournament.
 
Previous tournament champions of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic include USC (2009, 2017), Butler (2010), Kansas State (2011), Arizona (2012), Iowa State (2013), George Washington (2014), Oklahoma (2015), and San Diego State (2016).
 
Additional information for the family-friendly tournament and resort destination of Honolulu, Hawai'i, including travel packages, can be found on the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic web site at hawaiianairlinesdiamondheadclassic.com.