A preview of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational
• Friday, November 22, 2019
COLLISION COURSE?
Nationally ranked Michigan State and Kansas are favorites, but the rest of the field look to spoil the party
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The Maui News
H I S T
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
WIN-LOSS TOTALS Maui games only (2019 participants in BOLD) Record Pct. Syracuse 9-0 1.000 17-1 .944 Duke North Carolina 18-3 .857 Dayton 7-2 .778 9-3 .750 Connecticut 11-4 .733 Gonzaga Michigan 12-5 .706 12-6 .600 Kansas Kentucky 10-5 .667 Vanderbilt 10-5 .667 8-4 .667 Michigan St. Iowa 6-3 .667 6-3 .667 Marquette 6-3 .667 Notre Dame Ohio St. 6-3 .667 6-3 .667 Purdue Wichita St. 4-2 .667 Alabama 2-1 .667 2-1 .667 Auburn Ball St. 2-1 .667 Butler 2-1 .667 Charlotte 2-1 .667 Cincinnati 2-1 .667 Clemson 2-1 .667 Florida 2-1 .667 GeorgeWashington 2-1 .667 Georgia Tech 2-1 .667 Hawaii 2-1 .667 James Madison 2-1 .667 New Mexico 2-1 .667 Pittsburgh 2-1 .667 Rice 2-1 .667 Toledo 2-1 .667 Tulane 2-1 .667 Utah St. 2-1 .667 Wake Forest 2-1 .667 Arizona 13-8 .619 Arizona St. 9-6 .600 Illinois 9-6 .600 Providence 3-2 .600 Missouri 7-5 .583 Texas 7-5 .583 Villanova 7-5 .583 Indiana 10-8 .555 Louisville 5-4 .555 Santa Clara 5-4 .555 UNLV 5-4 .555
Wisconsin 5-4 6-5 Virginia 8-7 UCLA Maryland 6-6 6-6 San Diego St. Baylor 3-3 Iowa St. 3-3 3-3 Minnesota 3-3 Oklahoma St. Oregon 3-3 3-3 South Carolina Virginia Tech 1-1 Memphis 7-8 4-8 LSU Arkansas 4-5 4-5 BYU 4-5 Georgetown Utah 4-5 5-7 Oklahoma Kansas St. 3-5 DePaul 4-8 3-6 California Stanford 3-6 Tennessee 3-6 Boston College 2-4 Massachusetts 2-4 Southern Cal 2-4 VCU 2-4 Arkansas St. 1-2 Colorado 1-2 Evansville 1-2 Houston 1-2 Long Beach St. 1-2 Loyola Marymount 1-2 Nebraska 1-2 Northeastern 1-2 Seton Hall 1-2 St. John’s 1-2 St. Joseph’s 1-2 Tennessee Tech 1-2 Texas A&M 1-2 Washington 1-2 Xavier 1-2 Chaminade 8-92 Georgia 0-0 Davidson 0-2 Central Michigan 0-3 Lamar 0-3 Mississippi St. 0-3 Princeton 0-3
CHAMPIONS .555 .545 .533 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .467 .333 .444 .444 .444 .444 .417 .375 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .080 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000
O
2018—Gonzaga 2017—Notre Dame 2016—NorthCarolina 2015—Kansas 2014—Arizona 2013—Syracuse 2012—Illinois 2011—Duke 2010—Connecticut 2009—Gonzaga 2008—NorthCarolina 2007—Duke
R North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough (center) and Bobby Frasor hold up the Wayne Duke Trophy after the Tar Heels claimed the 2008 Maui Invitational title.
2006—UCLA 2005—Connecticut 2004—North Carolina 2003—Dayton 2002—Indiana 2001—Duke 2000—Arizona 1999—NorthCarolina 1998—Syracuse 1997—Duke 1996—Kansas 1995—Villanova
1994—Arizona St. 1993—Kentucky 1992—Duke 1991—Michigan St. 1990—Syracuse 1989—Missouri 1988—Michigan 1987—Iowa 1986—Vanderbilt 1985—Michigan 1984—Providence
The Maui News file photos
Chaminade’s Christophe Varidel goes to the basket during a 93-77 loss to Baylor in a 2013 first-round game during which Varidel tied the tournament record with 10 3-pointers.
RECORDS
Y
Friday, November 22, 2019
Maui games only Individual Points—43, Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, vs. Michigan St., 2005. Rebounds—21, Derrick Randall, Pittsburgh, vs. Chaminade, 2014. Assists—15, Brandon Granville, Southern California, vs. Memphis, 1999. Steals—10, Jeff Trepagnier, Southern California, vs. Utah St., 1999. Blocks—7, Ray Gromlowicz, UNC-Charlotte, vs. Chaminade, 1986; Dan Godfread, Evansville, vs. Missouri, 1989; Arne Alig, Chaminade, vs. Providence, 1991; Jelani McCoy, UCLA, vs. Santa Clara, 1995; Earl Barron, Memphis, vs. Chaminade, 1999; Lonny Baxter, Maryland, vs. Dayton, 2000; Tommy Smith, Arizona St., vs. Utah, 2002; Zach Finley, Princeton, vs. Duke, 2007. Field goals—16, Dell Curry, Virginia Tech, vs. Michigan, 1985; Everick Sullivan, Louisville, vs. Chaminade, 1989. Free throws made—21, Kaspars Kambala, UNLV, vs. Louisville, 2000. 3-pointers—10, Kyle McAlarney, Notre
Dame, vs. North Carolina, 2008; Christophe Varidel, Chaminade, vs. Baylor, 2013; Chase Fischer, BYU, vs. Chaminade, 2014. Turnovers—13, Maurice Houston, Tennessee Tech, vs. Texas, 1993. Team Most points—162, Loyola Marymount, vs. Chaminade, 1990. Fewest points—37, Arizona St., vs. Minnesota, 1991. Rebounds—70, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990. Assists—37, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990. Steals—20, Oklahoma, vs. BYU, 1992. Blocks—13, Maryland, vs. Dayton, 2000. Field goals—57, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990. Free throws made—36, Iowa, vs. Kansas, 1987. 3-pointers—19, Loyola Marymount, vs. Chaminade, 1990. Turnovers—32, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990; Santa Clara, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.
Connecticut’s Kemba Walker celebrates during the Huskies’ 83-79 win over Wichita State in the 2010 final. Walker was named the tournament MVP.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS 2018—Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga 2001—Mike Dunleavy, Duke 2017—Matt Farrell, Notre Dame 2000—Michael Wright, Arizona 2016—Joel Berry II, North Carolina 1999—Joseph Forte, North Carolina 2015—Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden 1998—Jason Hart, Syracuse Jr., Kansas 1997—Steve Wojciechowski, Duke 2014—Stanley Johnson, Arizona 1996—Raef LaFrentz, Kansas 2013—C.J. Fair, Syracuse 1995—Kerry Kittles, Villanova 2012—Brandon Paul, Illinois 1994—Mario Bennett, Arizona St. 2011—Ryan Kelly, Duke 1993—Travis Ford, Kentucky 2010—Kemba Walker, Connecticut 1992—Bobby Hurley, Duke, and Anfernee 2009—MattBouldinandStevenGray,Gon- Hardaway, Memphis St. zaga 1991—George Gilmore, Chaminade 2008—Ty Lawson, North Carolina 1990—Billy Owens, Syracuse 2007—Kyle Singler, Duke 1989—Doug Smith, Missouri 2006—Darren Collison, UCLA 1988—Glenn Rice, Michigan 2005—Adam Morrison, Gonzaga 1987—Iowa team 2004—Raymond Felton, North Carolina 1986—Will Perdue, Vanderbilt 2003—Keith Waleskowski, Dayton 1985—Dell Curry, Virginia Tech 2002—Bracey Wright, Indiana 1984—Patrick Langlois, Chaminade
The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
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Cougars excited to be part of ‘unbelievable group’ B By DAKOTA GROSSMAN Staff Writer
This year’s edition of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational features a few blue bloods of men’s college basketball — UCLA, Kansas, Michigan State. Brigham Young University may not have the same reputation, but a look at the numbers show the Cougars are no slouch: 27 conference championship titles, 29 NCAA Tournament appearances. The program is coming to Maui for the fourth time, with its highest finish a runner-up showing in 1992, and BYU’s firstyear head coach Mark Pope calls this year’s field “a really good setup.” “I mean you got Kansas, Michigan State, UCLA, Virginia (Tech) and BYU also,” said Pope, who spent the past four years at Utah Valley. “It’s an unbelievable group. So it will be a good time for all of us.” Pope led Utah Valley to 23 wins in 2017-18 and a schoolrecord 25 wins last season. He was also an assistant coach at BYU prior to his career with the Wolverines. “I think we’re excited to play, it’s time for us to go see what we can do in a live game, so we’re really excited,” Pope said earlier this month. “It’s such an extraordinary place, and a terrific bunch of guys here who are committed
Y BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY photos
Senior guards TJ Haws (left photo) and Jake Toolson (right photo) are averaging 12.5 points on Monday in the nightcap of the and 15.3 points, respectively, this season for BYU. opening day of tournament at the to grow together as a team. It’s a “I’m really excited about this bounds and 3.8 assists per game. Lahaina Civic Center. “I haven’t had time to scout “It’s hard to know at this real honor and I’m so excited to team and can’t wait to get this thing going.” point, but we’re just going to UCLA yet, but I do know coach be here.” Last season, Haws averaged take it one game at a time,” (Mick) Cronin,” Pope said. “We The Cougars, who went 1913 last season, entered Wednes- 17.8 points a game, 5.1 assists Haws said. “There’s so many come from the same coaching day’s game against Houston at and 3.5 rebounds, with a career- good teams in this tournament, tree, you could say, even though 3-1 and averaging 71.8 points high 35 points against San so many talented players, so no he’s been in this business a lot matter who we’re playing, it’s al- longer than I have. He’s a tough, per game, tops in the West Coast Diego. Through four games this sea- ways going to be a battle. I think hard-nosed guy. I know he’s goConference. “We’re making a lot of son, senior guard Jake Toolson if we come out and play our ing to be having those guys playprogress every day, there’s good was averaging a team-high 15.3 game, I think we have a shot to ing ridiculously hard, it’s going energy in the building every points along with 4.0 rebounds beat anyone and I’m just excited to be fun.” ■ Dakota Grossman is at day,” said TJ Haws, the and 3.3 assists a game. Haws is to get out there.” Cougars’ 6-foot-4 senior guard. chipping in 12.5 points, 2.8 reThe Cougars will face UCLA dgrossman@mauinews.com
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TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
C Silverswords happy to be back in Maui field H By DAKOTA GROSSMAN Staff Writer
A M I N A D E
The Chaminade University men’s basketball team had played in every Maui Jim Maui Invitational since the tournament started in 1984 until last season. The host program from Honolulu has a 10-year agreement that puts the team in the championship round of the tournament in odd-numbered years and on the Mainland in even-numbered years, which means the NCAA Division II Silverswords (2-0) are back on the Valley Isle this season, ready to bring their best game. “We were pretty disappointed that our university decided to go away from participating in this tournament last year,” Chaminade’s Tyler Cartaino said via phone last week. “It was a good experience to get to go travel to Arizona and San Diego State last year with those guys in exhibition, but it’s nothing compared to the Maui Invitational — the whole atmosphere, the feeling of it, it’s something you don’t get to experience very often.” The 6-foot-6 senior guard and forward started all 31 games last season, averaging 17.7 points per game, 1.2 steals and 6.6 rebounds, and totaled 14 blocks. Cartaino also led the PacWest Conference with a field-goal percentage of 59 percent and shot 77.5 percent from the free-throw line to help the Silverswords finish with the most wins since they joined Division II at 23-8. They also advanced to the NCAA West Regional for the first time since 2014. This year’s team started the season Nov. 9-10 in Alaska, where the ’Swords defeated both Alaska Fairbanks and
Chaminade University / ANDREW LEE photo
Tyler Cartaino started all 31 games last season for Chaminade, averaging 17.7 points per game, 1.2 steals and 6.6 rebounds. Alaska Anchorage 90-64 and 85-56, respectively. “I think this year’s team, we understand how to play together better, I think we had something like 30 assists in both those games in Alaska,” Cartaino said. “Our offense is getting a lot better, we’re making the right read and finding the open people. Then defensively, we’re getting better, we’re pressuring more and playing more intense and whatnot, so I’m pretty excited with where we’re at right now. “Obviously these are a big couple
UP TO
weeks for us to get prepared and start looking forward to playing these biggername teams,” he added. Chaminade kicks off the Maui Invitational against Kansas, ranked No. 4 in Division I by the Associated Press, on Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center. The Silverswords have played the Jayhawks three other times before in this tournament, most recently in 2015 when they were defeated 123-72. “The tournament is loaded this year, and I was fortunate enough to play
50% OFF
Kansas my freshman year,” said Cartaino, who redshirted in 2017-18. “I know what they bring, I know how big and physical they play and how smart they play, so it’s going to be a lot of fun. Another great experience.” Nine-year Chaminade coach Eric Bovaird added that “we definitely missed participating” on Maui last year, but was still grateful for the opportunity to compete against Division I teams on the Mainland. “It was definitely different than playing on Maui,” Bovaird said. “Definitely both are great experiences, and I think every coach in the country wants to play in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational — it’s a premier early-season tournament — that’s why all the big schools come.” Only about a month into the 2019-20 season, Bovaird said he’s happy with where the team stands right now, but “anything can happen from game to game.” “I think we have a really good chance to be top in our conference and hopefully contend for a championship,” he said. But for now, the ’Swords are focused on being back in the Maui Invitational bracket. “It’s a great field, I know we say that year in and year out, but it really is,” Bovaird said. “Headlining with Michigan State … then you throw in Kansas and UCLA. Up and down, every single team has a chance to win their conference, it’s a superb field and we’re really excited to play against three of the top teams in the country.” ■ Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@ mauinews.com
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The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
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Past Valley Isle success means little to Flyers D Dayton, the 2003 Maui champion, brings veteran group led by all-Atlantic 10 selection Toppin By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer
It may be nothing more than a fun piece of trivia — and it certainly doesn’t matter much to coach Anthony Grant — but the University of Dayton has the best winning percentage in the event of any team in this season’s Maui Jim Maui Invitational. The Flyers (3-0) have a 7-2 record on Maui, including the 2003 tournament title. That’s better than Michigan State and Kansas, perennial powerhouse programs each currently ranked in the top 4 in the nation. “I wish that stat had anything to do with this year’s team,” Grant said via phone last week. “These guys have never played in Maui and it’s the first experience of Maui, and outside of trivia, it really doesn’t factor in to anything in terms of our preparations or what we’re doing. “So, it’s great for us as a program that we’ve been to Maui and had success, but I think for our guys we have got to be able to do it against the competition we face this year.” The Flyers — who begin tournament play Monday against Georgia at the Lahaina Civic Center — are a veteran group, with 11 players in their third season or more with the program. “I think it helps you find out
University of Dayton / ERIK SCHELKUN photo
Dayton forward Obi Toppin was all-Atlantic 10 first team last season — he was the first freshman in 20 years to get that nod.
about yourself a little bit, obvi- Grant said of the Maui trip. “I ously, with the caliber of the think it’s a great field. I know competition that we’ll face,” that this time of year in Novem-
ber it’s an exciting time. It’s kind of like the introduction or the beginning of really college basketball, these type of tournaments. “I think there’s that type of competition for us — it’s a great opportunity to get on that stage and learn about our team and hopefully put ourselves in a position where we can compete for a championship.” Grant took over in 2017 and led the Flyers to a 14-17 record, 8-10 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Last season, they were 2112, 13-5 in the A-10 before their season ended with a first-round loss to Colorado in the NIT. Like the program he plays for, redshirt sophomore forward Obi Toppin has grown quickly lately. He now stands 6-foot-9 — four years ago as a high school junior, he was 6-2. “I know for me and my team, we’re very excited,” Toppin said. “Going there to play against high competition, like Georgia, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, UCLA, all those schools, they’re really great schools to play against. Hopefully we come out with W’s going there.” Toppin always made it a point to catch as much of the Maui Invitational as possible during Thanksgiving week every year. “Yes sir, wherever I was I always found time to watch the
Maui Invitational tournament,” Toppin said. “There’s always great teams in there and it’s just fun to watch. The one (game) last year, where Duke played Auburn (in the semifinals, a 78-72 Duke win). That was a crazy game, it was ridiculous. I will say that one was one of the greatest ones I have seen.” Toppin was all-Atlantic 10 first team last season when he became the first freshman in 20 years to get that nod, and is a preseason all-Atlantic 10 selection this year. He scored 29 points — no other Flyer had more than 14 points — to go along with 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in a season-opening win over Indiana State. “I don’t really feel like there’s a lot on my shoulders, just because I feel like everybody on the team is a leader,” Toppin said. “Everybody has a specific role — we all know our role and we all contribute to the team in our own ways. “I don’t feel like all the pressure’s on me because the end of the day I’m going to go out and play the same way I play every day: I’m going to work hard and do what I can to help the team win.” ■ Robert Collias is at rcollias @mauinews.com
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The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES No. 0 1 2 3 4 10 11 13 14 15 21 22 23 24 25
BYU COUGARS No. 1 2 3 4 5 10 13 15 21 23 24 25 30 33 40 42 44
Name Pos. Wyatt Lowell F Zac Seljaas G Blaze Nield G Alex Barcello G Jake Toolson G Jesse Wade G Taylor Maughan G Cameron Pearson G Trevin Knell G Yoeli Childs F Evan Troy G Gavin Baxter F TJ Haws G Dalton Nixon F Kolby Lee F Richard Harward C Connor Harding G Coach—Mark Pope
Ht. 6-10 6-7 6-1 6-2 6-5 6-1 6-4 6-0 6-5 6-8 6-5 6-9 6-4 6-7 6-9 6-11 6-6
Yr. So. Sr. So. RS Sr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. So.
Name Pos. Hunter Cattoor G Isaiah Wilkins G Landers Nolley II G/F Wabissa Bede G Nahiem Alleyne G Jonathan Kabongo G Brendan Palmer G Grant Yates F P.J. Horne F Jalen Cone G John Ojiako F Keve Aluma F Tyrece Radford G Branden Johnson F Ryan Payne F Coach—Mike Young
NOV. 2 AT LAHAINA C
Ht. Yr. 6-3 Fr. 6-4 So. 6-7 R-Fr. 6-0 Jr. 6-3 Fr. 6-4 So. 6-4 So. 6-8 So. 6-6 Jr. 5-10 Fr. 6-10 Fr. 6-9 Jr. 6-1 R-Fr. 6-8 Gr. 6-8 Jr.
Geor
Monday, 9 ESP Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. ESPN2
Day Virginia
Monday ESP
Michiga Kan
Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. ESPN or ESPN2
Fifth place
Monday, ESP Tuesday, noon ESPN2 or ESPNU
KANSAS JAYHAWKS No. 0 1 2 3 4 5 10 12 13 20 22 30 33 35 44
Name Pos. Marcus Garrett G Devon Dotson G Christian Braun G Dajuan Harris G Isaiah Moss G Elijah Elliott G Jalen Wilson F Chris Teahan G Tristan Enaruna G/F Michael Jankovich G Silvio De Sousa F Ochai Agbaji G David McCormack F Udoka Azubuike C Mitch Lightfoot F Coach—Bill Self
Cham BY
Monday, 6 ESP
UC
Ht. Yr. 6-5 Jr. 6-2 So. 6-6 Fr. 6-1 Fr. 6-5 Sr. 6-3 R-Fr. 6-8 Fr. 6-4 Jr. 6-8 Fr. 6-5 Fr. 6-9 Jr. 6-5 So. 6-10 So. 7-0 Sr. 6-8 Sr.
Wednesday, 4 p.m. ESPNU
Seventh place
GEORGIA BULLDOGS No. 0 1 2 3 4 5 10 11 14 15 20 24 25 30 32
Name Pos. Donnell Gresham Jr. G Jaykwon Walton F Jordan Harris G Christian Brown F Tyree Crump G Anthony Edwards G Toumani Camara F Jaxon Etter G Tye Fagan G Sahvir Wheeler G Rayshaun Hammonds F Rodney Howard C Amanze Ngumezi F Mike Peake F Stan Turnier G Coach—Tom Crean
Ht. 6-3 6-7 6-5 6-6 6-1 6-5 6-8 6-4 6-3 5-10 6-9 6-11 6-9 6-8 6-4
Yr. Gr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr.
The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
CHAMINADE SILVERSWORDS
25-27 CIVIC CENTER
No. 0 1 3 5 10 11 12 13 22 24 25 34 55
Name Pos. Nathan Pickett G Roman Young G Eliet Donley F Telly Davenport G Andre Arissol G Garrett Seagren G Bill Awet F Tyler Cartaino G/F Kevin Kremer G Kobe Young F Kendall Small G Morningstar Takapu F Isaac Amaral-Artharee G Coach—Eric Bovaird
Ht. Yr. 6-0 Fr. 5-11 R-Jr. 6-6 Sr. 6-5 R-Jr. 6-2 Sr. 6-2 So. 6-8 Jr. 6-6 R-Sr. 6-6 R-Fr. 6-6 R-Fr. 6-0 Sr. 6-7 R-So. 6-2 R-Fr. No. 0 1 2 3 5 10 11 13 14 15 20 23 25 30 34 40 41 44
rgia
9:30 a.m. PN2
yton a Tech
Tuesday, 3 p.m. ESPN
y, noon PN2
an State nsas
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Wednesday, noon ESPN
Name Pos. Kyle Ahrens G/F Joshua Langford G Rocket Watts G Foster Loyer G Cassius Winston G Jack Hoiberg G Aaron Henry F Steven Izzo G Brock Washington G Thomas Kithier F Joey Hauser F Xavier Tillman F Malik Hall F Marcus Bingham Jr. F Julius Marble F Braden Burke F Conner George G Gabe Brown F Coach—Tom Izzo
Ht. Yr. 6-6 R-Sr. 6-5 Sr. 6-2 Fr. 6-0 So. 6-1 Sr. 5-11 R-So. 6-6 So. 5-8 Fr. 6-4 R-So. 6-8 So. 6-9 R-So. 6-8 Jr. 6-7 Fr. 6-11 So. 6-8 Fr. 7-0 R-Jr. 6-4 R-Sr. 6-7 So.
Champion
, 4 p.m. PNU
minade YU
UCLA BRUINS
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. ESPN
6:30 p.m. PN2
No. 0 2 3 4 5 10 13 14 15 20 22 23 24 34 43
CLA Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. ESPN2
Third place
DAYTON FLYERS No. 0 1 2 3 4 10 11 14 31 32 33 35 40 51 52 53
Name Pos. Rodney Chatman G Obi Toppin F Ibi Watson G Trey Landers G Jared Becker G Jalen Crutcher G Sean Loughran G Moulaye Sissoko C Jhery Matos G Jordy Tshimanga C Ryan Mikesell F Dwayne Cohill G Chase Johnson F Drew Swerlein G Camron Greer G Christian Wilson PG Coach—Anthony Grant
Ht. Yr. 6-1 R-Jr. 6-9 R-So. 6-5 R-Jr. 6-5 Sr. 6-4 Fr. 6-1 Jr. 6-3 Fr. 6-9 Fr. 6-5 R-Jr. 6-11 R-Jr. 6-7 Gr. 6-2 So. 6-9 R-So. 6-0 R-Fr. 5-7 Jr. 6-1 R-So.
Name Pos. Alex Olesinski F Cody Riley F Jules Bernard G Jaime Jaquez Jr. G/F Chris Smith G Tyger Campbell G Jake Kyman G/F Kenneth Nwuba F Armani Dodson G Isaac Wulff G Shareef O'Neal F Prince Ali G Jalen Hill F/C David Singleton G Russell Stong G Coach—Mick Cronin
Ht. Yr. 6-10 R-Sr. 6-9 R-So. 6-6 So. 6-6 Fr. 6-9 Jr. 5-11 R-Fr. 6-6 Fr. 6-9 So. 6-5 Sr. 6-3 R-Jr. 6-9 R-Fr. 6-4 R-Sr. 6-10 R-So. 6-4 So. 6-2 So.
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The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
G Crean returns to Maui, this time with UGA By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer
E O R G I A
Tom Crean is very familiar with the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. Indeed, he is a permanent fixture on the wall at the Lahaina Civic Center. Crean is now the head coach for the University of Georgia, but he has been here as head coach of Indiana twice, Marquette once and as an assistant for Michigan State once. “I was won- Crean dering about that, that’s cool,” Crean said of his spot on a banner featuring past players and coaches from the tournament that hangs in the LCC. “That’s from my first year at Indiana.” Crean is excited to come back to the Valley Isle with his Bulldogs, who open the tournament Monday against Dayton. “It’s a tremendous honor to be part of any program that gets a chance to play in the Invitational,” Crean said. “It is some of the greatest basketball environment, atmosphere, intensity combined that you can possibly get. And you get to do it in an incredible place like Maui.” Crean mentioned Maui to his Bulldogs after their 100-66 win
over Delaware State last Friday. “I was just telling my team again tonight: They have no idea how much of a spectacle it will be to be inside of that arena, what the intensity will feel like, what the atmosphere will feel like,” Crean said. “And I’m excited about it.” Crean’s team features nine freshmen, including highly touted Anthony Edwards, a 6-foot-5 guard who led the team with an average of 19.7 points through a 3-0 start. Edwards was ranked the nation’s No. 1 recruit by 247Sports.com, No. 2 on the 247Sports.com composite list, No. 3 by Rivals.com and No. 4 by ESPN.com. “He plays with a real joy, plays with enthusiasm, he does a lot of different things,” Crean said. “He really moves the ball, he can score it. He gets better defensively all the time.” The team’s third-leading scorer is Tyree Crump, one of three upperclassmen to start for the Bulldogs. Crump is the recipient of two program scholarships, one awarded in memory of a Bulldog who died in a car crash in 2006, and the other awarded to the UGA senior male with the highest grade-point average in the entire athletic department. Crump is a 6-1 senior guard who averaged 12.7 points and 2.0 steals through the Bulldogs’ first three games. He is also one
of eight Georgians on the roster. “We’re very excited,” Crump said. “We get to see where our chemistry is at by going on this trip. Also, we’ve never been on a trip like this. So, to get together as a team and be ready to go to Hawaii, that’s big for us.” Crump remembers watching the event over the years on television. Now, he and the Bulldogs are part of the history. “There’s always a lot of great teams that play in the tournament, so us going there — we don’t have a name like most of the teams have — but I think it’s a great experience for us,” Crump said. “We’ll be ready to play.” With so many newcomers who are mixing in with a veteran starting lineup that has four starters averaging double-figure points, this event can be crucial for the Bulldogs, who finished 11-21 last season in Crean’s first year in Athens. “The mental toughness that you have to have to compete for three straight days is unlike anything,” Crean said. “Because obviously you’re dealing with the travel, you’re dealing with the time change, you’re in a beautiful environment but the teams … it’s a possession-by-possession tournament and to get it this early in the year is fantastic. It’s really, really going to be a battle of wills.” USA TODAY Sports / DALE ZANINE photo ■ Robert Collias is at rcollias Tyree Crump, a 6-1 senior guard, averaged 12.7 points and 2.0 steals through Georgia’s first three games. @mauinews.com
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The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
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Jayhawks aim to find ‘happy medium’ with lineup K By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer
The University of Kansas basketball team is ranked No. 4 in the nation, but arrives at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational with several questions left to answer. One of the first questions is what kind of lineup will the Jayhawks proceed with: Three or four guards, and which of the team’s bigs should be in the starting lineup? Those questions will start to be answered when the Jayhawks (3-1) open on Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center against tournament host Chaminade. In their first four games, three guards — Devon Dotson, who leads the team at 18.8 points per game, Ochai Agbaji and Marcus Garrett — and 7-foot center Udoka Azubuike have all been in the starting lineup. The other starts were split between David McCormack, a 6-10 forward who started three times, and 6-9 forward Silvio De Sousa, who got the other starting assignment on Nov. 15 against Monmouth. “Practice is one thing … but the reality of it is you can find out more in games,” coach Bill Self said at his Nov. 14 press conference. “We are not giving up, by no means, on playing two bigs. That is not the case at all, but I think the thing that has heightened the attention is the fact we know we don’t have to.” De Sousa did not play last season amid NCAA eligibility questions. He had 11 points and six rebounds in his first regular-season start against Monmouth. “That should elevate everybody else a sense of urgency knowing that you go from three bigs splitting 80
minutes, now three bigs splitting 40, which is a huge difference if we can’t find a happy medium which I’m sure we will, I don’t doubt that,” Self said. De Souza was a combined 0-for-5 from the field in just 13 minutes of playing times in a loss to Duke and a win over UNC Greensboro to open the season. “Usually, Duke was the exception, during most nonconference games you’re playing against mid-major opponents, which don’t have the opportunity to recruit as many bigs, so naturally, they are going to play smaller so that forces you to do the same in our situation if you want to be able to defend the arc,” Self said. “I don’t think it’s anything we have to be concerned about or decide what we are going to do come conference play right now because, I think, we will end up doing both.” There is clearly a possibility of the Jayhawks playing four guards, according to Self. “I honestly think our offense looks better with four guards in it right now,” he said. “The thing about it is you can play two bigs. … It’s just our skillset with these bigs are more bangers than they are passers and perimeter shooters to keep defenses honest. It can still look good, but I don’t see a huge reason to play two bigs unless we are better on the glass, unless we are better rim protectors, unless we are better screeners and things like that, that we can control from a physical standpoint.” Kansas is 12-6 all time in the LCC, winning the title in 1996 and 2015. The Jayhawks are 3-0 against Chaminade, all here, including a 123-72 win in 2015 the last time they met.
A N S A In their last game before heading to Maui, the Jayhawks earned a hard-fought 75-63 victory over East Tennessee State on Tuesday. Azubuike powered Kansas with 21 points. “We will take off tomorrow and then practice hard on Thursday and travel early on Friday,” Self said after the game. “… It is a business trip, but hopefully get there early enough on Friday to get to enjoy the day and then practice hard on Saturday and Sunday and get ready to play what should be a very competitive tournament as always.” ■ Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
University of Kansas / JEFF JACOBSEN photos
ABOVE PHOTO: Kansas center Udoka Azubuike is averaging 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds a game this season. ON THE COVER: Jayhawks guard Devon Dotson is the team’s leading scorer at 18.8 points per game.
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The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
Izzo, Spartans look to lift elusive Wayne Duke Trophy By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer
Michigan State University / MATTHEW MITCHELL photo (Tillman); The Maui News file photo (Izzo); AP photo (Winston)
ABOVE PHOTO: Xavier Tillman and the Michigan State Spartans are the highest-ranked team in this year’s field at No. 3 in the AP poll. RIGHT PHOTO: Tom Izzo has brought the Spartans to Maui three previous times — each time they left without the tournament title. ON THE COVER: Cassius Winston is averaging a team-high 17.5 points per game.
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Tom Izzo knows the Maui Jim Maui Invitational well. The one thing he would like to get more familiar with is the Wayne Duke Trophy that goes to the tourney winner. “It’s a sentimental thing for me, and the reason I say it’s a sentimental thing for me is the very first game in my (head) coaching career was in Maui against Chaminade,” the veteran Michigan State coach said. “I had Magic Johnson and Jud Heathcote in the stands. You know, it was a game we only won by a couple (69-66). And the next one was North Carolina (a 92-70 loss) and the next one was Steve Nash and Santa Clara (a 77-71 loss).” “So, Maui, I think I’ve been there three or four times and we had one of the historic games there, the tripleovertime (loss 109-106 to Gonzaga in 2005),” Izzo said. “It’s been good for me — Maui’s still Maui.” The No. 3-ranked Spartans open Monday against Virginia Tech at the Lahaina Civic Center. Izzo was an assistant on Heathcote’s staff in 1991 when the Spartans won the title at the Lahaina Civic Center, but since then Michigan State has not hoisted the trophy in appearances in 1995, 2005 and 2010. “The importance of it, the facility, the people there are so great,” Izzo said. “I’m so appreciative of my opportunities to have played this tournament.” Georgia head coach Tom Crean was on Izzo’s 199596 staff here. “A lot of good memories on Maui — no bad ones
though we can’t win the dang thing,” Izzo said. “No bad ones. We’ve had some epic games over there, with UConn, Gonzaga. My first year we weren’t very good, but I’ll never forget — we played North Carolina with Vince Carter and those guys. So, it’s been a good run. Maui’s been good to me.” The elusive Duke trophy could be within reach this time for Izzo’s team, which boasts an impressive lineup despite the loss of a big-time player. Josh Langford, a co-captain who missed the final 26 games last season due to injury, has another injury that is costing the senior guard significant time. “I just got out of a meeting with one of my best players, Josh Langford, who hurt his foot again and is out for the year,” Izzo said Sunday. “So, we’ve had to adjust without him.” That news came on the heels of a bigger tragedy for the Michigan State family recently. Senior All-American Cassius Winston’s brother Zachary died when he was hit by a train earlier this month. Zachary Winston was a sophomore guard on nearby Albion College’s basketball team. “So, we’re trying to use
Maui as a way to kind of rally us and gather us all around each other,” Izzo said. “What a great place to do that, you know, and try to put some of the problems behind and regroup, so that’s what we’ll use Maui for.” The Spartans are led by Cassius Winston, who averages 17.5 points and 7.8 assists; Xavier Tillman, who averages 12.0 points and 9.5 rebounds; and Aaron Henry, who averages 11.3 points. “It’s just a wonderful feeling to be invited to something like this, to be playing in such an historic event,” said Henry, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward. “I mean, I grew up watching this event. Just to be a part of it and see all the teams come through here and have won games. And all the great players that have played there, as well. Also, a nice trip to Hawaii. It’s all for the better for this team and a wonderful time for us.” The Spartans opened the season ranked No. 1 and losing a 69-62 decision to thenNo. 2 Kentucky before bouncing back with easy wins against Binghamton and Charleston Southern wrapped around a 76-73 win at then-No. 12 Seton Hall. If MSU meets No. 4 Kansas here, it will break a 7-7 head-to-head tie between the two blue bloods of college basketball. “We’ve got a good team, the tournament always has good teams,” Izzo said. “It can help a lot, you can learn how to prepare back-toback-to-back, focus in and get stuff done. I think it’s great for a team, especially a young team.” ■ Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
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Smooth transition so far for Cronin, Bruins U Ali returns after playing in 2015 Maui Invitational By DAKOTA GROSSMAN Staff Writer
This will be Prince Ali’s second Maui Jim Maui Invitational appearance with the UCLA men’s basketball team, and he knows what to expect. After playing in the threeday tournament back in 2015, Ali learned that all 12 games bring high-level basketball. “I remember being there for about a week, it was a good trip, and it was very competitive,” said the 6foot-4 guard. “We won our first game and lost the next two games, but it was probably the first month of my freshman year and it was a great experience to play with teams like that.” Now as a senior, he leads the Bruins into this year’s Maui Invitational, which UCLA begins against BYU on Monday night at the Lahaina Civic Center. “I’ve been watching all those teams, I’ve noticed how highly competitive they are and what kind of competition it will be, so we have to bring it and give it our all every night,” Ali said. “We’re looking alright, we’re just trying to get better every game, I mean it’s still early in the season, so our point of emphasis is trying to get better every day.” Ali, who took a redshirt season in 2016-17, came into the season having played in 88 career games, starting in 48, and has averaged 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in three seasons at UCLA. Last season, Ali started 26
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games and shot 42.9 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from 3-point territory for a Bruins team that finished 17-16 overall, 9-9 in Pac-12 play. Through the Bruins’ 4-0 start to this season, he was third on the team with 11.5 points per game and had a team-high 11 steals. His goal for this season is to end his time at UCLA on a high note. “I just want to win a lot of games, you know, I just want to go out as a winner, win our conference,” he said. “Even in Maui, just go from there and continue to win.” UCLA, a team that has won a record 11 NCAA titles, is competing on Maui for the sixth time, having won the tournament in 2006. This season’s squad is under the leadership of firstyear head coach Mick Cronin, who took over the Bruins program after 13 seasons at Cincinnati and three at Murray State during which he compiled a 365-
171 record. “It’s been pretty smooth, he’s been here since April, he’s put in his philosophies and we’ve adjusted to them, so it’s been a smooth transition,” Ali said. Cronin echoed that sentiment. “It’s been a big adjustment, but it’s going smoothly as to be expected,” Cronin said. “First year here for me, so I’m just trying to make sure we get better every day, it’s an exciting new challenge.” Cronin sees the Maui Invitational as a good test for his team. “It’s a great field of teams, great programs, great coaching, a lot of good players,” he said. “We have a young developing team, we graduated our leading scores who all went to the NBA draft. So, Maui is going to be a big test for us and a chance for us to see some stiff competition, and get better as a team.” ■ Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com
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UCLA Athletics / DON LIEBIG photos
LEFT PHOTO: Mick Cronin comes to UCLA after 13 seasons at Cincinnati and three at Murray State during which he compiled a 365-171 record. RIGHT PHOTO: Senior guard Prince Ali played in the Maui Invitational in 2015, when the Bruins finished in fourth place.
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The Maui News
TIPOFF • MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
Friday, November 22, 2019
V Hokies off to good start, still work in progress I R G I N I A By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer
T E C H
The Virginia Tech basketball team arrives for the Maui Jim Maui Invitational as a work in progress. Coach Mike Young is in his first season in Blacksburg, Va., after a 17-year run at Wofford that ended with a 30-5 team last season when he was The Sporting News Coach of the Year nationally, and third in The Associated Press balloting for that national COY award. Young has a team that features a total of 10 freshmen and sophomores. The Hokies open against No. 3 Michigan State on Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center. “No matter how long you’ve been somewhere, 10 years, one year, a tournament such as this, it’s all about preparing your team to play,� Young said. Virginia Tech won its first four games of the season, including a rare season-opening Atlantic Coast Conference game against Clemson, 67-60. The ACC has gone to a 20-game league season, forcing the earlyseason conference matchup. “I wouldn’t recommend that, to be honest,� Young said of opening with the ACC game. “We were fortunate enough to make enough plays to win, but we’re playing 20 league games and it’s impossible to cram those 20 league games into January,
Virginia Tech / DAVE KNACHEL photo
P.J. Horne is one of the top returnees from a Virginia Tech team that went 26-9 last season as the Hokies advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. February and the first week of March, so it necessitated us playing two before Christmas, which I’m not a fan of.� The Hokies won their next three games by an average of 27 points, but things get harder quickly here. “To have the opportunity to participate in what is obviously the premier holiday tournament or preseason tournament, the Maui Invitational, is great for Virginia Tech, great for our bas-
ketball team,� Young said. Virginia Tech was 26-9 last season when its season ended in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a 75-73 loss to Duke. The top six scorers from that team have departed. Juniors Wabissa Bede, a 6foot point guard, and P.J. Horne, a 6-6 forward, are the top returnees, averaging a combined 7.1 points per game last season. “I think it starts with the two upperclassmen, the two upper-
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classmen I have in Wabissa Bede and P.J. Horne,� Young said. “Wabissa is at 30 assists and eight turnovers to this point and is our best perimeter defender by far and has done a great, great job for us. P.J. Horne played really well. Undersized, but tough and can step out and make a shot. “We’ll have five on the floor that can shoot the ball at any given time. I think that makes us unique to guard for some people.� Landers Nolley II, a 6-7 red-
shirt freshman, led the Hokies through four games with a scoring average of 22.8 points, while Nahiem Alleyne was at 10.8 points per game, and Horne at 10.0 “I can’t say that I am a big fan,â€? Young said of his mixture of experience and youth. “I look out there all too often and I’ve got two, sometimes three freshmen. They’re playing hard and trying to do the things that we ask of them. There’s no substitute for experience. ‌ They get better every time they go on the floor. We still encounter things daily that are new and we’re working through that.â€? The Hokies will get tested quickly in the LCC. “When you consider Michigan State, Dayton or Georgia, and then somebody else really good on the third day, that’s as difficult a run as I could imagine,â€? Young said. “It certainly does have a conference tournament feel. The excitement that surrounds the Maui Invitational will be good, I hope, for our team. We will take a lot of things off the island, head back this way, and we have our second league game as we come out of Maui with Duke. “So, there’s still a lot to learn about our team — we’ll know more coming out of there, but we’re excited about it.â€? â– Robert Collias is at rcollias @mauinews.com
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