The Maui Invitational has been one of the most exciting preseason tournaments in NCAAB, and this year, college basketball fans are in for a treat. [sc:NCAAB240banner ]
Gonzaga, who ended last season ranked No. 1, plays Dayton on the first day of the tournament. The Syracuse Orange face Minnesota in the first round.
Among the 2013 field of eight are three past winners hoping to do it again at the Lahaina Civic Center. Syracuse leads the group along with Gonzaga and Dayton. Arkansas, California, Baylor, Minnesota and host Chaminade complete the bracket, starting up on Monday, Nov. 25. You can find the complete bracket here.
2013 Maui Invitational Tournament Schedule:
Nov. 25:
- Arkansas vs. California (3:00 p.m.)
- Minnesota vs. Syracuse (5:30 p.m.)
- Chaminade vs. Baylor (9:30 p.m.)
- Gonzaga vs. Dayton (midnight)
Nov. 26: Semifinals (7:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.)
Nov. 27: Championship (10:00 p.m.)
All times are in ET.
The Teams
1. Syracuse – The Favorite
The Orange will be in their first year in the ACC. Before facing the challenge of the new conference, they will take on Maui in star transition phase. Returning is their top scorer, C.J. Fair, who will need to take on an even heavier load after Brandon Triche and James Southerland graduated, and Michael Carter-Williams entered the NBA Draft.
Head coach Jim Boeheim brings to the table five-star recruit Tyler Ennis, along with a handful of other four-stars Tyler Roberson, B.J. Johnson and Ron Patterson.
Maui will provide an opportunity for Syracuse to grow and learn against some solid teams. A championship contest against either Baylor or Gonzaga would be the ultimate test for them, and with three games in as many days, we will get to see exactly how deep this Orange team is.
2. Gonzaga – Acquainted in Maui
The Bulldogs will make their fourth appearance in Maui and currently hold a 6-3 all-time record. Gonzaga won the Invitational in 2009 with a thrilling win over Cincinnati and will look to take home the ultimate prize once again, this time behind junior guard Kevin Pangos. Pangos averaged 12 points and three assists per game last year and is the Bulldogs’ leading returning scorer. If the Bulldogs end up facing Baylor in the second round, Pangos could make life tough on a Bears team lacking depth in the backcourt.
3. Baylor
The Bears won the NIT last year and will hope to use that championship as a springboard into Maui and eventually, the Big 12 season. They’ll get Chaminade in the first round, but the Silverswords can hardly be looked at as pushovers after their double-digit win over Texas last year.
Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson will be Baylor’s go-to players this season. Each averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game, and if sophomore Rico Gathers can contribute consistently, the 25th-ranked Baylor will have an intimidating frontcourt.
4. Minnesota
How could the favorites to win the tournament be on upset alert in the first round? In a tournament as unpredictable as this, with solid teams and so many question marks, anything is possible.
[sc:NCAAB490Banner ]Minnesota’s Andre Hollins is a real darkhorse in this year’s tournament. He led the Gophers in scoring last year and dropped 41 points on Memphis. Austin Hollins joins him at guard, and if the two of them can figure out the legendary Syracuse 2-3 zone, the Orange might be in trouble.
Of course it helps that Richard Pitino is the Gophers’ coach; he spent a few years as an assistant at Louisville for his father, Rick Pitino, who might also have a few tips for breaking the Orange zone.
5. Dayton
The Flyers are looking to rebound from a tough 2012-13 campaign that ended with a 7-9 record in the A-10 and no postseason tourney. Head coach Archie Miller has to develop a new point guard to replace Kevin Dillard. Freshmen Scoochie Smith will likely be at the point.
Devin Oliver could be Josh Benson’s successor. Oliver is a beast on the glass and a solid interior scorer who can also step outside and knock down the mid-range jumper with ease. Along with the always-improving Jalen Robinson, this team is very capable of surprising with a 3rd-place finish. It all starts against the Bulldogs.
6. California
Prize recruit Jabari Bird is the new rising star in Berkeley for Coach Mike Montgomery. Bird, a sensational finisher, will step right into Allan Crabbe’s shooting guard job alongside four returning starters. Point guard Justin Cobbs is one of the conference’s best, and their blue-collar forwards get the job done inside.
Jordan Mathews doesn’t possess the size of Bird, but he is a talented shooting guard in his own right. For now, he will likely provide a nice scoring punch off of the bench. Kameron Rooks, a 7-0, 270 pound center, will need to make a pretty big splash right away.
The Bears have been a big surprise the past few years and with Mike Montgomery still at the helm, expect more out of California.
7. Arkansas
The Razorbacks could be flying under the radar right now in their third season under head coach Mike Anderson. Arkansas did lose their two best scorers in BJ Young and Marshawn Powell, but are gaining some fresh faces in talented freshmen Bobby Portis and Moses Kingsley. Veterans Coty Clarke and Michael Qualls have been providing steadiness last season and will provide leadership for their young studs.
[sc:NCAAB490Banner ]Arkansas can assimilate their young stars to big competition early with this Maui Tournament, as racking up wins could give them more confidence going against the deep SEC.
8. Chaminade
Ever since their colossal upset over Virginia in 1982, Chaminade has not won that many games, always in the losers’ bracket after the first game. However last year, they made it to the winners’ bracket thanks to the 86-73 win versus Texas in the opening round. The Silverswords will once again have the chance to knock off a Big 12 school with a 1st-round contest against the AP No. 25 and NIT Champs Baylor Bears.
As the only Division II school in the tournament, the Silverswords have the potential to shock some of the teams not familiar with the team.
Check out Top Bet Sportsbook closer to the event for lines and odds for the 2013 EA Sports Maui Invitational.
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