2023 Maui Invitational Set To Begin For Feast Week
The Maui Invitational is a premier early-season college basketball tournament that has been a part of the NCAA's Feast Week since its inception in 1984. The tournament is held annually over Thanksgiving week in Lahaina, Hawaii, on the island of Maui. The tournament was created by then-Maui resident Wayne Duke, a former commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, who envisioned a tournament that would attract top-tier teams to the island for a week of competitive basketball and Hawaiian hospitality.
The inaugural Maui Invitational in 1984 featured a field of eight teams, including the eventual national champion, the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels, led by legendary coach Dean Smith and future NBA star Michael Jordan, won the first Maui Invitational, setting the stage for the tournament's reputation as a showcase for future professional talent. Over the years, the tournament has featured numerous future NBA stars, including Kevin Durant, Kemba Walker, and Anthony Davis.
The Maui Invitational has grown in prestige and popularity over the years, becoming a staple of the college basketball season. The tournament is known for its competitive field, with many of the nation's top teams vying for the championship each year. The tournament's unique setting also adds to its appeal, with games played in the intimate Lahaina Civic Center, a small gymnasium that allows fans to get close to the action. Despite its remote location, the Maui Invitational consistently draws large television audiences, making it one of the most-watched early-season college basketball tournaments.
The 2023 Maui Invitational will see eight men's college basketball teams meeting in Hawai'i across three days. This year's tournament has Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA and Chaminade. Five of these eight are in the current top 11 in the AP Top 25 poll, giving this event an Elite Eight March Madness feel this year. It is the 40th anniversary of the event in 2023. This year's event will be played at the University of Hawai'i atMānoa in the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu because of the wildfires.
2023 Maui Invitational schedule, TV channels
All times ET
Monday, Nov. 20
Game 1: Syracuse vs. Tennessee | 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2 Game 2: Gonzaga vs. Purdue | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 Game 3: Kansas vs. Chaminade | 9 p.m. | ESPNU Game 4: Marquette vs. UCLA | 11:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Tuesday, Nov. 21
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2 Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 | 8 p.m. | ESPN Game 8: Winner 3 vs. Winner Game 4 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Wednesday, Nov. 22
Game 9: Third place game | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2 Game 10: Championship game | 5 p.m. | ESPN Game 11: Seventh place game | 9:30 p.m. | ESPNU Game 12: Fifth place game | 12 a.m. Thursday | ESPN2
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