A quest to replicate

After earning their first trip to the NCAA Tournament four months ago, Portland State will begin its quest for a repeat conference championship and return to March Madness. Prior to defending their Big Sky Championship in conference play, the Vikings will look to prove themselves against several of the premier teams in the nation.

After earning their first trip to the NCAA Tournament four months ago, Portland State will begin its quest for a repeat conference championship and return to March Madness.

Prior to defending their Big Sky Championship in conference play, the Vikings will look to prove themselves against several of the premier teams in the nation.

Early in the season the Vikings will take the road to face Rice, Washington, Cal Poly, Baylor and Gonzaga.”We will really be tested early on in the season,” head coach Ken Bone said. “Both Gonzaga and Baylor were NCAA Tournament teams last season and both have great teams returning.”

In addition to those difficult road tests, Portland State should face stiff competition inside the Stott Center.The Vikings will face cross-town rival Portland, as well as fellow NCAA Tournament participant Cal State Fullerton and an opponent to be named later as part of the ESPN Bracketbuster series that Portland State has participated in the last two seasons.

“It is exciting to have some really good teams coming to play us at home,” Bone said. “The Cal State Fullerton game should be really challenging for us, and the Portland game is always close and intense.”

Conference play for the Vikings commences with an early-season tilt against Montana on Dec. 20 inside the Stott Center. Portland State fans will not see their team again on campus until Jan. 8, when the Vikings square off against Weber State.

Comcast SportsNet, who televised three Portland State games last year, will bring at least four conference games to the small screen again this season.

Top non-conference games during 2008-09 seasonTeamDateLocation

PortlandNov. 18Stott Center

Cal State FullertonNov. 23Stott Center

WashingtonDec. 14Seattle

GonzagaDec. 23Spokane, Wash.

BaylorDec. 29Waco, Texas

ESPN Bracketbuster game (TBA) Feb. 21Stott Center