2024 Maui Invitational Matchups

[Husky Alien]

Official Maui Invitational bracket is out.

 

[bendm]

MSU got a gift w/ that matchup. they should be playing auburn or ISU.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Official Maui Invitational bracket is out.

View attachment 104384

Auburn v ISU is a really high level game to be bumping down to ESPNU

 

[Storrs South]

MSU got a gift w/ that matchup. they should be playing auburn or ISU.

Probably figured MSU would have trouble getting by Memphis so gave them a gift

 

[NJHusky]

Probably figured MSU would have trouble getting by Memphis so gave them a gift

Well B1G is the best basketball conference

 

[auror]

9:30 AM, giddy up.

 

[HooperScooper]

9:30 AM, giddy up.

Remember when we'd always complain that the team wasn't ready for noon games when they started really slowly? 9:30 am is going to be interesting. For both teams. Maybe their bodies will still be on EST at tipoff.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Izzo has been a major thorn in UConn's side. Overall record against Michigan St. is only 4-4, including a devastating Final Four loss, UConn's only loss ever in the Final Four. Izzo has also handled UConn the last 2 meetings. It's about time for Danny to put a major smackdown on them, hopefully in the 2nd round.

ancient history my friend.

 

[gsmooth]

Remember when we'd always complain that the team wasn't ready for noon games when they started really slowly? 9:30 am is going to be interesting. For both teams. Maybe their bodies will still be on EST at tipoff.

It depends when they get there to Maui. Maybe Hurley doesn't have them adjust since Hawaii is 6 hours ahead at the moment. A 9:30 am time translates to 3:30 pm EST.

Not the same situation, but I remember Jay Wright stating when Nova had a late First Round game in the NCAAT he would let the players sleep in until past noon the day of the game so they would feel well rested and alert for a 10 PM tipoff.

 

[HooperScooper]

It depends when they get there to Maui. Maybe Hurley doesn't have them adjust since Hawaii is 6 hours ahead at the moment. A 9:30 am time translates to 3:30 pm EST.

It would be 2:30 pm EST since we turn our clocks back but they don't in Hawaii.

With the big difference in the time zones I'm going to bet they get to Hawaii at least 2 days before their first game.

 

[Tenspro2002]

In some early-season tournaments there's a huge quality disparity between the top 3-4 teams and the rest of the field and it's critical to win the first game to get Q1 opportunities in the winners' bracket.

This one doesn't feel that way. It's hard to identify a "bad" matchup. Obviously we want UNC as the big prize, but there should be 3 quality games in there either way.

 

[NowInStorrs]

That's a pretty good field. And Colorado.

 

[ucp990411]

Izzo has been a major thorn in UConn's side. Overall record against Michigan St. is only 4-4, including a devastating Final Four loss, UConn's only loss ever in the Final Four. Izzo has also handled UConn the last 2 meetings. It's about time for Danny to put a major smackdown on them, hopefully in the 2nd round.

My memory is not serving me well on this. What are the last 2 meetings in which Izzo “handled” us?

 

[navery12]

My memory is not serving me well on this. What are the last 2 meetings in which Izzo “handled” us?

They beat us in 2021 in one of the MTEs, though it was hardly a case of them handling us. That was a close game that we just didn't pull out. They did embarrass us in Ollie's last year though, that was the MTE where we got blown out by Arkansas too

 

[dog bone]

It would be 2:30 pm EST since we turn our clocks back but they don't in Hawaii.

With the big difference in the time zones I'm going to bet they get to Hawaii at least 2 days before their first game.

In previous Maui Invitationals, we saw teams were practicing at Lahaina Civic Center the Friday before the Monday tournament kick off, possibly earlier. They will likely head there on Wednesday or Thursday - the 11-12hour flight is brutal and it takes time to recover from it. The island seems to be shutdown by 9-10pm so I don't think there will be an issue with the early starts, and there hasn't been in the past. Hey if I can chug several beers pregaming in the parking lot before 9am Maui time, they can play. Sorry I will be missing it this year

 

[CTBasketball]

Can’t wait for the season to start, I’m getting anxious.

 

[Waquoit]

Didn't Izzo lose to Ollie twice?

 

[ucp990411]

They beat us in 2021 in one of the MTEs, though it was hardly a case of them handling us. That was a close game that we just didn't pull out. They did embarrass us in Ollie's last year though, that was the MTE where we got blown out by Arkansas too

Yeah, I looked it up after my comment. Some years are rather forgettable

 

[Storrs South]

Didn't Izzo lose to Ollie twice?

Yes: 2012 in Germany (Ollie’s first game as a head coach) and 2014 in NYC (Elite 8 at MSG)

 

[Ports21]

We end up playing MSU in every tournament. It's wild.

 

[Storrs South]

We end up playing MSU in every tournament. It's wild.

UConn and Michigan State are on the same rotation for Maui (think you can only be in it once every 4 years or something like that), so then that cascades down with other tournaments pursued since both programs seek similar top MTEs. It's also partly coincidence.

 

[Waquoit]

Looks like Memphis played Bama tough.

 

[caw]

Looks like Memphis played Bama tough.

Watched the game, Memphis is frenetic on both offense and defense. They play hard, not smart. Pressed a lot, fouled a lot, missed a ton of bad shots.

 

[huskyharry]

Watched the game, Memphis is frenetic on both offense and defense. They play hard, not smart. Pressed a lot, fouled a lot, missed a ton of bad shots.

they are also beefy and crash the boards hard…rebounding will need to be much better than against Rhody