What is the Maui Invitational?
In exactly two weeks, one of Hawaii’s biggest sporting events returns to the shores of West Maui. The 27th Annual EA Sports Maui Invitational is the nation’s preeminent and longest running early season college basketball tournament. This season’s field includes some perennial national heavyweights – University of Connecticut, University of Kentucky, Michigan State University, and University of Washington. If you are not familiar with college basketball, 3 of these teams (UK, MSU, and UW) made the “Sweet 16” round of the National Championship Tournament in March, with UK making the “Elite 8,” and MSU advancing to their 6th “Final Four” in 12 years. This season, the AP has those same 3 teams ranked in the top 20 of their preseason poll, with Washington at #18, Kentucky at #11, and Michigan State as a near consensus #2. The rest of the 8 team field is rounded out by the University of Oklahoma, University of Virginia, Wichita State University, and host school Chaminade.
Dates, Location, Ticket Info, and Event History
Team USA Gold Medal Head Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his 2007 Maui Invitational Champion Duke Blue Devils
The tournament is taking place at the Lahaina Civic Center on 1840 Lower Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina from November 22-24, 2010. Tickets can be purchased online here and there are a variety of various travel packages still available.
When researching this event, a few amazing statistics caught my eye. Over the event’s history, 85 different schools (representing 21 conferences and 38 states) have played at least one game in the Civic Center. What makes this number so astonishing is out of the 71 NCAA championships ever won, 55 have played in the Maui Invitational, and out of the 284 Final Four participants, 214 have played in this tournament! As you can see, there is some serious firepower represented every year in this event.
Have you been to the tournament before? Are you planning on attending this year? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments below…
I always look forward to the Maui Invitational! It’s such a great opportunity for locals to preview some of the top talent nationally without having to travel to the mainland. MSU should be a tough draw again this year
I know that Anthony Sayles is looking forward to watching the Duke Blue Devils make it 5 National Championships this year. Go Duke!