The 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational field is highlighted by Hall of Fame head coaches leading powerhouse programs.
Bill Self brings his Kansas Jayhawks back after winning the tournament in 2015. Tom Izzo leads national contender Michigan State, and first-year coach Mick Cronin brings his UCLA Bruins to Maui.
Dayton out of the Atlantic-10, BYU from the West Coast Conference, the ACC’s Virginia Tech and Georgia from the SEC will visit the islands to put on a show.
The Spartans went 32-7 and won both the regular season and tournament titles in the Big Ten before falling short in the national semifinal last season. They’ll will have to replace three key departures in Nick Ward, Matt McQuaid and Kenny Goins. The trio combined for over 30 points and 18 rebounds a year ago.
Key Returners
Cassius WInston, G — 18.8 ppg, 3.6 apg
Xavier Tillman, F — 10 ppg, 7.3 rpg
Joshua Langford, G — 15 ppg, 40% 3FG
Newcomers
Malik Hall, F
Julius Marble, F
Rocket Watts, G
The Cougars finished 19-13 a year ago, 11-5 in the WAC, and went out and hired Mark Pope away from Utah Valley to be their head coach.
Key Returners
Yoeli Childs, F — 21.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg
TJ Haws, G — 17.8 ppg, 5.1 apg
Newcomers
Jake Toolson, G (transfer/Utah Valley)
Bernardo Silva, C
Nate Hansen, G
The Jayhawks finished 2018-19 at 26-10 and 12-6 in the Big 12, then fell in Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament to Auburn.
Key Returners
Devon Dotson, G — 12.3 ppg, 3.5 apg
Legerald Vick, G — 14.1 ppg, 45.5% 3FG
Uodoka Azubuike, C — 13.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Newcomers
Tristan Enaruna, F
Isaac McBride, G
Christian Braun, F
Isaiah Moss, G (transfer/Iowa)
The Bulldogs struggled to an 11-21 record last season, including 2-16 in the SEC. They hired Tom Crean as their new head coach in March. Crean has a career 367-252 record as a head coach at Maquette and Indiana.
Key Returners
Rayshaun Hammonds, F — 12.1ppg, 6.1 rpg
Tyree Crump, G — 9.1 ppg, 34.5% 3FG
Jordan Harris, G — 7.8 ppg, 41.5% 3FG
Newcomers
Christian Brown, F
Anthony Edwards, G
Jaykwon Walton, F
Sahvir Wheeler, G
The Flyers are in year three under head coach Anthony Grant, following a 21-12 season a year ago. Grant lost just two seniors from last year’s squad and adds three transfers and a key recruit to te group for 2019-20.
Key Returners
Obi Toppin, F — 14.4 ppg, 5.6 apg
Jalen Crutcher, G — 13.2 ppg, 5.7 apg
Ryan Mikesell, F — 10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg
Newcomers
Chase Johnson, F (transfer/Florida)
Rodney Chatman, G (transfer/Chattanooga)
Moulaye Sissoko, C
Coach Buzz Williams and the Hokies made a great run into the Sweet 16 last March, falling 75-73 to Duke. Williams will have to replace the production big man Kerry Blackshear Jr. who transferred to Florida, and leading scorer Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans. A transfer and a key recruit may be asked to pick up a lot of slack.
Key Returners
Isaiah Wilkins, G — 4.7 ppg, 40.7% 3FG
Wabissa Bede, G — 3.8 ppg, 2.3 apg
P.J. Horne, — 3.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Newcomers
Branden Johnson, C (transfer/Arizona State)
Jalen Cone, G
John Ojako, F, C
Nahiem Alleyne, G
It’s Mick Cronin’s first season as the head coach of the Bruins. Cronin spent 13 seasons at Cincinnati where he made the NCAA Tournament nine times, including last season when the Bearcats won the American Athletic Conference tournament title. UCLA finished last season at 17-16.
Key Returners
Jules Bernard, G — 7.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg
Prince Ali, G — 9.6 ppg, 2.7 apg
Chris Smith, G — 6.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Newcomers
Jake Kyman, F
Jaime Jaquez Jr., F
Head coach Eric Bovaird’s Silverswords finished 23-8 last season and fell 77-75 in the D2 West Regional to Seattle Pacific. Chaminade lost just three seniors from that, however, so Bovaird and company return experience across the board and are expected to compete again this season.
Key Returners
Tyler Cartaino, G –17.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Andre Arissol, G — 8 ppg, 38.5% 3FG
Jake Hutchings, F — 7 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Newcomers
Akot “Bill” Awet, F (transfer/Southern Illinois)
Kevin Kremer, G (transfer/Utah)
In December 1982, then No. 1 ranked Virginia, led by National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, played little-known NAIA Chaminade University in Honolulu while on the way back from a trip to Tokyo. The Silverswords stunned Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984, Chaminade University hosted the first Maui Jim Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 34 years running. Each year, the Maui Jim Maui Invitational attracts the top programs, best-known coaches and most outstanding players to compete in an exciting atmosphere at the Lahaina Civic Center near the beautiful beaches of Maui.
Maui Jim sunglasses were born on the beaches of Maui and designed to protect eyes from the harsh rays of the island sun. Today, Maui Jim is recognized for unparalleled “Aloha Spirit” and customer service as well as patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology, which blocks 100% of UV rays and eliminates glare while enhancing color, definition and depth perception. Maui Jim sunglasses have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as an effective UV filter for the eyes and surrounding skin. For more information, visit MauiJim.com or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @OfficialMauiJim.
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