Early-Season Madness in Maui

11/21/2023 Early-Season Madness in Maui

By: Jeff Yoder

The 40th Maui Invitational Sets Up Holiday Week of Ranked College Basketball Clashes

We’re two weeks into the NCAA basketball season, and our first batch of holiday action is underway this week. The 40th Maui Invitational — held in Honolulu this year due to the Maui wildfires — tipped off last night with four games and five of the top 11 teams in the nation. Other holiday invitationals are sparring throughout the country, but our focus last night centered around Hawaii where #2 Purdue and 7-foot-4 reigning player of the year, Zach Edey (25 pts, 14 rebs, 3 blks) beat #11 Gonzaga (73-63) with a second-half onslaught. #1 Kansas, #7 Tennessee and #4 Marquee were also winners. Rounds 2 and 3 of the tourney could lead us to a to clash of 1-vs-2 in Purdue-Kansas on Wednesday night. Here’s the recap:

 

Maui Invitational

#1 Kansas def. Chaminade (83-56)

#2 Purdue def. #11 Gonzaga (73-63)

#4 Marquette def. UCLA (71-69)

#7 Tennessee def. Syracuse (73-56)

 

Today’s Schedule (Maui Invitational Semifinal)

#7 Tennessee vs. #2 Purdue (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)

#1 Kansas vs. #4 Marquette (10:30 pm ET, ESPN)

 

Other NCAA Basketball Highlights

#5 UConn def. #15 Texas (81-71)

#16 Kentucky def. Saint Joseph’s (96-88, OT)

Wisconsin def. #24 Virginia (65-41)

 

Photo: Darryl Oumi / Getty Images