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The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that takes place over three days during Thanksgiving week, usually in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, at the Lahaina Civic Center. The tournament was founded in 1984 and is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, an NCAA Division II school. Seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams are invited to compete in the tournament, with Chaminade competing every year until 2018, and from then on, in odd-numbered years. The Maui Invitational has become a highly anticipated event, attracting over 4,000 out-of-state visitors and providing a significant economic boost to the local community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annual |
| Time of Year | Thanksgiving week |
| Location | Lahaina Civic Center on the island of Maui, Hawaii |
| Host | Chaminade University of Honolulu |
| Participants | Seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams |
| Sponsor | Novavax (as of 2024) |
| Previous Sponsors | Maui Jim, EA Sports, Camping World, Allstate |
| Notable Fact | The tournament has its roots in a game considered one of the greatest upsets in college history |
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What You'll Learn
- The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament
- It takes place during Thanksgiving week in Lahaina, Hawaii
- Seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams are invited
- The 2024 tournament saw eight men's college basketball teams play over three days
- The Maui Invitational has been played since 1984
The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament
The Maui Invitational has been played since 1984 and is carried by ESPN. The tournament originated from a game considered one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. On December 23, 1982, the undefeated University of Virginia, originally scheduled to play the University of Hawaii, ended up playing against Chaminade, which at the time belonged to the NAIA.
The tournament provides an opportunity for schools to compete on a neutral court with some of the top basketball programs in the country. Associated Press college basketball editor Jim O'Connell praised the Maui Invitational as "the best in-season tournament in the country – the standard by which all others are compared." The prestige of the tournament is reflected in the fact that five winners have gone on to win the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in the same season: Michigan in 1988, North Carolina in 2004, 2008, and 2016, and UConn in 2010.
The Maui Invitational attracts thousands of out-of-state visitors, including players, officials, team staff, media representatives, and basketball fans. It has been a significant contributor to the local economy, with the 2007 tournament generating over $8 million in revenue for Maui, according to the Maui Visitors Bureau. In recent years, the tournament has also played a role in community recovery efforts in Lahaina, with tournament operators striving to balance respect for the local community's trauma while promoting the nationally televised event.
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It takes place during Thanksgiving week in Lahaina, Hawaii
The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that takes place during Thanksgiving week in Lahaina, Hawaii. It is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, an NCAA Division II school. The tournament has been held since 1984 and is televised by ESPN. The Maui Invitational is considered "the best in-season tournament in the country" by Associated Press college basketball editor Jim O'Connell.
The tournament typically features seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams invited to compete, with Chaminade participating every other year. In recent years, the format has included four mainland teams that play against the Maui-bound teams before travelling to Maui for the championship bracket. The Maui Invitational is a significant event for the local economy, attracting thousands of out-of-state visitors and generating substantial revenue for the community.
In 2024, the tournament returned to Maui after being relocated to the island of O'ahu in 2023 due to fire-related issues. It took place from November 25 to November 27 at the Lahaina Civic Center, with Auburn claiming the title. The Maui Invitational holds a special place in college basketball history, with several teams going on to win the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in the same season.
The tournament provides a unique opportunity for schools to compete on a neutral court with some of the top basketball programmes in the country. It has featured teams from a wide range of conferences and states, showcasing the diverse talent in college basketball. The Maui Invitational is not just about the game but also about community recovery and respect for the local culture. It has a significant impact on the economy of Maui, with the event in 2022 bringing an estimated economic impact of $22 million.
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Seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams are invited
The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that takes place during Thanksgiving week. It is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, an NCAA Division II school. The tournament takes place in Lahaina, Hawaii, at the Lahaina Civic Center on the island of Maui.
The Maui Invitational has been a platform for some of the top basketball programs in the country to compete on a neutral court. The tournament has a rich history, with over 100 schools representing 26 conferences and 40 states having participated since its inception in 1984. The winner of the Maui Invitational has gone on to win the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in the same season on five occasions, showcasing the tournament's prestige and calibre of competition.
The 2024 Maui Invitational featured eight men's college basketball teams, including Auburn, Memphis, UConn, Michigan State, Colorado, Iowa State, North Carolina, and Dayton. The tournament returned to Maui that year, bringing in over 4,000 out-of-state visitors and significantly contributing to the local economy.
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The 2024 tournament saw eight men's college basketball teams play over three days
The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that takes place over Thanksgiving week. The tournament is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, an NCAA Division II school, and seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams are invited to compete.
The eight teams that participated in the 2024 tournament were Auburn, Memphis, UConn, Michigan State, Colorado, Iowa State, North Carolina, and Dayton. Auburn won the championship game, beating Memphis 90-76. Johni Broome stood out in the win, with 21 points and 16 rebounds.
The Maui Invitational is highly regarded in college basketball, with Associated Press college basketball editor Jim O'Connell calling it "the best in-season tournament in the country." The tournament provides an opportunity for schools to compete on a neutral court with top basketball programs in the nation. It has also served as a stepping stone to success for several teams, with five winners going on to win the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship later that season.
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The Maui Invitational has been played since 1984
The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that has been played since 1984. It takes place during Thanksgiving week, usually in Lahaina, Hawaii, at the Lahaina Civic Centre on the island of Maui. The tournament is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, an NCAA Division II school.
The first Maui Invitational in 1984 was a four-team event called the "Silverswords Invitational", held at Konawaena High School on the Big Island of Hawaii in the town of Kealakekua. In 1985, it moved to the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku, on Maui, and temporarily became known as the "Maui Classic". By 1987, it had expanded to eight teams and found its permanent home at the Lahaina Civic Centre.
The tournament has grown into a significant event in the college basketball calendar, with some of the top basketball programmes in the country competing on a neutral court. It has also been a boon for the local economy, bringing in more than $110 million to Maui since its debut. The 2007 tournament alone generated over $8 million in revenue for the island, according to the Maui Visitors Bureau.
The format of the tournament involves inviting seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams to Maui to compete, with Chaminade participating every other year. Beginning in 2018, Chaminade plays on the mainland in even-numbered years, while eight Division I schools compete in the championship bracket on Maui. In odd-numbered years, Chaminade competes in the championship bracket on Maui.
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Frequently asked questions
The Maui Invitational is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that takes place during Thanksgiving week, usually in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.
The tournament usually takes place at the Lahaina Civic Center on the island of Maui. However, due to COVID-19 issues, the 2020 and 2021 tournaments were held on the US mainland.
The Maui Invitational is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, an NCAA Division II school.
Seven or eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams are invited to compete in the tournament, with Chaminade competing every year until 2018 and in odd-numbered years thereafter.
The Maui Invitational is considered "the best in-season tournament in the country" by some, and it has significant economic and community impacts. The tournament attracts thousands of visitors and boosts the local economy by millions of dollars.
