ESPN Events has unveiled the matchups and bracket for the 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic and Portland will open against Houston on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. (HT). The Cougars are coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2019.

The eight-team tournament will be held Dec. 22, 23 and 25, with 12 games played over three days. Portland is one of five first-time participants of the event, which is entering its 11th year.

Below is a breakdown of the complete field, matchups and game times.
 

• With eight letterwinners returning, first-time tournament participant Ball State hopes a summer tour of Costa Rica serves as a springboard for the 2019-20 season.
• After reaching the finals of the 2013 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, Boise State looks to make another run behind senior guard Justinian Jessup who led the team last year in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
• Georgia Tech returns eight of its top 11 players from last year's squad that posted the program's highest Atlantic Coast Conference finish since 2013.
• Tournament host Hawai'i seeks its first Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic title yet is always dangerous as evidenced by a pair of upsets over Pac-12 squads last season.
• Houston will be a tournament favorite as it boasts back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019.
• Portland head coach Terry Porter, a 17-year NBA veteran and two-time all-star, returns three starters and all five frontcourt players entering his fourth season at the helm of the Pilots.
• UTEP will make its second Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic appearance and will do so with a revamped roster that features six transfers from across the country.
• Washington is coming off a memorable season that saw them win 27 games, claim the Pac-12 regular-season title and advance to NCAA Second Round.

 

Date	Time (HT)	Matchup	Network
Sun, Dec 22	10:00 AM	Houston vs Portland	ESPNU
	12:00 PM	Georgia Tech vs Boise State	ESPNU
	4:30 PM	Ball State vs Washington	ESPN2
	6:30 PM	UTEP vs Hawai'i	ESPN2
Mon, Dec 23	11:30 AM	Semifinal #1	ESPNU
	2:00 PM	Consolation #1	ESPN2
	6:00 PM	Semifinal #2	ESPNU
	8:30 PM	Consolation #2	ESPN2
Wed, Dec 25	8:30 AM or 10:30 AM	7th Place Game	ESPNU
	8:30 AM or 10:30 AM	5th Place Game	ESPNU
	1:30 PM	3rd Place Game	ESPN2
	3:30 PM	Championship	ESPN2