EA Sports Maui Invitational

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A preview of the EA Sports Maui Invitational

• Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

2

N O R T H C A R O L I N A

The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

Tar Heels go into tourney as favorites

By ROBERT COLLIAS

ON TO COVER …

Staff Writer

Roy Williams knows the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

He is making a fifth trip to the event — his third with the Tar Heels — tying Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski for the record by a coach not from host Chaminade.

“It’s been a great, great time for me,” Williams said. “It’s my favorite tournament of all time.”

North Carolina, ranked 11th by The Associated Press, is the pretournament favorite going into its firstround game against Mississippi State on Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center.

The Tar Heels won the event in 1999, 2004 and 2008, the last two under WillStrickland iams. He also coached Kansas to a Maui title in 1996.

The only coach with more championships is Krzyzewski, with five, and the Blue Devils are the only team with more titles and a better record on the Valley Isle than the Tar Heels. Duke is 15-0 alltime in Lahaina, a win mark that North Carolina (13-2 in Maui games) can surpass this week.

“I didn’t know that, but I’m sure several of those wins were with coach (Dean) Smith, or coach (Bill) Guthridge, or coach (Matt) Doherty, but I will still bring it up to my team, I can tell you that,” Williams said. “It’s a big challenge and that’s what we’re looking at.”

North Carolina, which went 32-6 last season and reached the NCAA tournament regional finals, was picked third by media in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, behind North Carolina State

• BACKGROUND: James Michael McAdoo of North Carolina was a preseason Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection.

(UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA photo)

• BOTTOM, FROM LEFT: Tyler Hansbrough soars for a dunk during a Maui Invitational game in 2008. ◆ The Tar Heels celebrate winning the 2004 title. ◆ North Carolina players huddle up en route to the 1999 championship. (The Maui News file photos)

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA photo

Reggie Bullock is North Carolina’s top returning scorer from last season, when the team got within one win of the Final Four.

and Duke.

James Michael McAdoo, a 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, was named to the preseason All-ACC team and led the Tar Heels in points and rebounds in both their games so far this season, victories over Gardner-Webb and Florida Atlantic. He is averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds going into today’s game against Long Beach State.

“James Michael has gotten off to a

heck of a start for us,” Williams said.

“Also Reggie Bullock is set to play a complimentary role for us. He is one of our leaders for this team and we need Reggie to have a big-time tournament for us. We truly are a team, we are not a oneperson team or a one-person scoring machine or anything.”

Bullock is the Tar Heels’ leading scorer returning from last season, when he averaged 8.8 points. The junior guard to-

taled 21 points in the team’s first two games this season.

Also back is Dexter Strickland, who last season was averaging 7.5 points and leading the team in steals and assists before he suffered a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 19.

Strickland remembers watching his predecessor as the Tar Heels’ point guard — Ty Lawson, now of the Denver Nuggets — play on Maui.

“Those guys, they actually told me how fun it is,” Strickland said. “Just being down there in that facility with a field of great energy, I’m looking forward to it.”

For the Tar Heels, who received their lowest preseason ranking since 1999, a title next week would not only mean passing the Blue Devils, but also send a message that the team is very much a contender on the national stage.

“I think this year is important because a lot of people look at us as underdogs and we have a great chance at proving them wrong, proving that we still have a bunch of guys who can win,” Strickland said. “I think this tournament will solidify that. … We are one of the most-winning programs (third all-time) and it is very important that we keep that up.”

■ Robert Collias can be reached at rcollias@mauinews.com

The Maui News

S T A T E

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

3

Bulldogs forced to cope with injuries

By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer

It is a season of beginnings for Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs have a new coach, Rick Ray, and a roster that includes only five returnees from last season’s 21-12 team, which was snubbed by the NCAA tournament selection committee and then lost to Massachusetts in double overtime in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

This season, Mississippi State was picked to finish last in the Southeastern Conference in a preseason media poll, Ray and has opened by splitting its first two games.

In the second contest, a win over Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, Jalen Steele suffered a fractured right wrist that will sideline him for approximately six weeks.

Mississippi State’s next game is against North Carolina, ranked 11th in the nation by The Associated Press, in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Bulldogs will be playing at the Lahaina Civic Center for the first time. Their last trip to Hawaii, two seasons ago, included an infamous fight between teammates in the stands at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu during the Diamond Head Classic.

This season’s team had already lost two freshmen to season-ending knee injuries. Andre Applewhite’s anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in the left knee were torn during a practice

earlier this month, and Jacoby Davis suffered an ACL tear in July.

Steele appeared in all 33 of Mississippi State’s games last season, starting 16, and averaged 8.7 points. The rest of the team’s starting five this season had a combined six NCAA Division I starts before this month.

“I think our guys are really doing a good job of reading everything in practice,” Ray, who spent the previous two seasons as an assistant at Clemson, said last week. “I think they are excited about the opportunity that is in front of them. I don’t think any team is outworking us in practice as far as trying to learn, so I think our guys are really pointing toward a great effort and are ready to go out and play hard.”

Trivante Bloodman and freshman Fred Thomas have been part of Ray’s three-guard starting lineup. Colin Borchert, who had been starting at forward, has been suspended for a violation of team rules and will not be with the team in Hawaii.

Wendell Lewis, a senior who averaged 3.8 points and 4.0 rebounds last MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY photo season, and freshman Gavin Ware are Wendell Lewis averaged 3.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last season for the tallest Bulldogs, each at 6-foot-9.

Ray said the Maui field will not Mississippi State. give his team any breaks, but will help his inexperienced roster grow.

“It is the hardest tournament of any kind as far as basketball tournaments 2012 go,” Ray said. “The biggest thing for me is I wanted every kid on this team ‘Aipono to have the opportunity to say that he Award went and played in the best basketball tournament. In the Maui Invitational, Winner we have got the chance to play against . .. the best competition. I think I would all.. . ciia ec pe S be doing our guys a disservice if I Sp Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center didn’t allow them this opportunity.”

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The Maui News

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TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

Bulldogs bid for more Hawaii success

By KYLE SAKAMOTO Staff Writer

U T L E R

Butler’s Brad Stevens is 36, still young by college coaching standards, but has already made quite a name for himself.

In five-plus seasons, he has racked up 140 victories, four Horizon League regular-season championships and, of course, appearances in the NCAA tournament final in 2010 and 2011.

With that kind of history, Stevens’ name tends to pop up when vacancies arrive at other schools, but he says his heart is at Butler.

In April 2010, he signed an extension that runs through the 2021-22 season.

“I’ve gotten calls.

I’m happy here,” said Smith Stevens, who grew up in the Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville.

“I have an affinity for this place. I’ve been here for 33 of the 36 years I’ve been on this planet. It’s home.”

The Bulldogs’ first appearance in the EA Sports Maui Invitational — they play Marquette on Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center in the tournament opener — will be their second trip to Hawaii in three years. Butler won the 2010 Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.

“We pride ourselves on giving our student-athletes the best student-athlete experience possible,” Stevens said.

“Next year we’re going to take a preseason trip to Australia. We don’t want them to leave regretful. They get to come to Maui and play in Maui. It’s a memory that’ll last forever.”

The Bulldogs went 22-15 last season and reached the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational. They lost to Con-

BUTLER UNIVERSITY photo

Brad Stevens, who has 140 victories in just over five seasons as Butler’s coach, is signed with the school through the 2021-22 season.

necticut in the 2011 NCAA final a year after coming within a buzzer-beater of defeating Duke for a national championship.

Emerson Kampen, Andrew Smith and Chase Stigall, seniors this season, were members of all three of those teams.

“Obviously, anytime you get to experience that, it’s remarkable,” Stevens said.

“There are great players, great coaches who have never played in the Sweet 16, let alone Final Four. And to do it in your hometown in back-to-back years, it’s cer-

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tainly an honor to be a part of. We’re the first team in the state of Indiana to go to back-to-back Final Fours.”

Like any highly motivated individual, Stevens hasn’t gotten too comfortable.

“I try not to sit here and revel in the great things that we’ve accomplished,” he said. “We’re just worried about trying to do it again.”

The Bulldogs, who opened their season with a win over Elon and a loss to Xavier, were picked to finish sixth in the team’s inaugural Atlantic-10 season in a poll of media and coaches. Their top returnees are the 6-foot-11 Smith, who averaged 10.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season, 6-6 junior Khyle Marshall (9.8 points) and 6-4 sophomore Roosevelt Jones (6.0 rebounds).

“I like our team. I think we’re going to have a good year,” Stevens said. “We have new guys and guys that have been here before. We have good size on our front line.”

Butler is also hoping to get a boost from 6-0 senior Rotnei Clark, who sat out last season after transferring from Arkansas. Clark hit 42.0 percent of his 3-point attempts for the Razorbacks two seasons ago.

“We didn’t shoot it well last season,” Stevens said. “That’s not an issue with this year’s team. We can put it in the hole.’’

Despite Butler becoming more of a household name in college basketball, Stevens said his recruiting strategy hasn’t changed much.

“We’re still going after the same type of athletes,” he said. “Some might have a higher number next to their name. The rankings can be subjective and not always correct. We’re just trying to find the right guys.”

■ Kyle Sakamoto can be reached at ksakamoto@mauinews.com

The Maui News

M

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Staff Writer

R Q U E T T E

5

Golden Eagles have veteran backcourt

By KYLE SAKAMOTO

A

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

Buzz Williams was an assistant coach at Marquette the last time the team appeared in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Now, he’s back as the Golden Eagles’ head coach, and fully aware of what the event is all about.

“The Maui Invitational is one of the premier tournaments in the country and the quality of the field on an annual basis is proof of that reputation,” Williams said.

“I had the opportunity to participate as an assistant coach in 2007 and being able to return as the head coach at Marquette makes it Cadougan even more special.

Our program is looking forward to another great event.”

The Golden Eagles were the runnersup in 2007 under Tom Crean, who was hired at Indiana after the season, with Williams replacing him at Marquette.

Williams has guided the team to the NCAA tournament in each of his first five years as head coach and owns a 112-64 record after a 2-0 start this season.

The Golden Eagles really created a buzz the past two seasons, appearing in consecutive NCAA regional semifinals.

Two players from last season’s 27-8 team were selected in the NBA draft.

The squad playing at the Lahaina Civic Center next week — starting with a matchup against Butler in the tournament’s first game — has only three seniors, but returns its starting backcourt in 6-foot-1 senior Junior Cadougan and 6-4 junior Vander Blue. Cadougan averaged 5.4 assists per game last season, and Blue averaged 8.4 points.

The top newcomer is someone who has already excelled at the collegiate level. Trent Lockett, a 6-5 senior, led Arizona State in scoring (13.0) and rebounding (5.8) last season.

Lockett graduated from Arizona State in three years and is enrolled in a Marquette graduate program, which allows him to be about five hours away from the Minnesota home of his mother, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in March.

“Obviously, Trent has a different maturity level to him with what he’s been through,” Williams said.

“He is a stud of a human being. He answers the bell every single day. He takes great care of his body. He’s always going to be early. He’s never going to be late.

He’s going to be prepared. He really cares. He’s a great teammate.”

Marquette had to wait for the start of its season — the scheduled opener against Ohio State in the Carrier Classic on the USS Yorktown was canceled due to condensation on the playing surface.

The Golden Eagles have since defeated Colgate and Southeastern Louisiana. In those two games, Gardner totaled 32 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes, and 6-11 senior Chris Otule scored 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field. Jamil Wilson, a 6-7 junior, also scored 21 points.

Otule played eight games last season before being sidelined by a knee injury.

During the 2010-11 season, he blocked 55 shots in 37 games while averaging 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.

“I don’t know if that’s size advantage, but that doesn’t hurt,” Williams was quotMARQUETTE UNIVERSITY photo ed as saying by the Associated Press after Vander Blue averaged 8.4 points per game last season, helping Marquette the game against Colgate. “But Chris and reach the NCAA tournament’s regional semifinals for a second straight year. Davante have really gotten better.”

The top returning post player is 6-8 gles’ leading scorer (9.5) and rebounder ■ Kyle Sakamoto can be reached at ksakamoto@mauinews.com junior Davante Gardner, the Golden Ea- (5.3) last season.

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B R A C K E T

The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS No. 0 1 2 3 5 10 13 14 15 20 21 22 24 31 34 41 55

Name Renaldo Woolridge Jio Fontan Greg Allen Zach Banner Ari Stewart Tyler Sugiyama Chass Bryan Dewayne Dedmon Brendyn Taylor J.T. Terrell Aaron Fuller Byron Wesley Daniel Munoz James Blasczyk Eric Wise Strahinja Gavrilovic Omar Oraby

Pos. F G G F F G G F G G F G G C F F C

Yr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr.

Ht. 6-9 6-0 6-3 6-9 6-7 5-10 5-9 7-0 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-5 5-10 7-1 6-6 6-9 7-2

CHAMINADE SILVERSWORDS No. 1 2 3 5 10 11 12 15 22 23 24 25 33

Name Amu Rosen Thomas Fleming Dominique Cooks Lee Bailey Bennie Murray Tyree Harrison Nick Peterson Darko Vukasovic Mike Green Kevin Hu Waly Coulibaly Rhys Murphy DeAndre Haskins

Pos. G G G G G F G F F F G F G

Yr. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Gr. So. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr.

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS Ht. 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-7 6-1 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-3 6-7 6-4

No. 0 1 2 3 4 5 11 15 20 24 25 32

Name Jalen Steele Fred Thomas Andre Applewhite Colin Borchert Trivante Bloodman Wendell Lewis Jacoby Davis Baxter Price Gavin Ware Tyson Cunningham Roquez Johnson Craig Sword

Pos. G G G F G C G G F G F G

Yr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr.

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS Ht. 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-8 6-0 6-9 6-1 5-10 6-9 6-3 6-7 6-3

No. 0 1 2 3 4 5 11 14 15 21 22 25 30 34 35 43

Name Joel James Dexter Strickland Leslie McDonald Wade Moody Luke Davis Marcus Paige Brice Johnson Desmond Hubert P.J. Hairston Jackson Simmons Frank Tanner J.P. Tokoto James Manor Denzel Robinson Reggie Bullock James Michael McAdoo

Pos. F G G G G G F F G F F F F F G F

Yr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. So. Sr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So.

Ht. 6-10 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-0 6-01⁄2 6-9 6-91⁄2 6-51⁄2 6-7 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-7 6-9

Butler Monday, 10:30 a.m.

ESPN2

Marquette Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.

ESPN2

Mississippi State

Tuesday, 3 p.m.

ESPN

Monday, 1 p.m.

ESPN2

North Carolina

and

Wednesday, noon ESPN2

Fifth place

Wednesday, 5 p.m.

ESPN

Texas

Champion

Monday, 4:30 p.m.

ESPNU

R O S T E R S

Chaminade Tuesday, noon ESPN2

Southern Cal

Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.

ESPN2

Monday, 7 p.m.

ESPN2

Illinois

Seventh place

BUTLER BULLDOGS No. 0 2 3 4 11 15 21 22 23 24 30 31 33 44

Name Andrew Smeathers Devontae Morgan Alex Barlow Erik Fromm Jackson Aldridge Rotnei Clarke Roosevelt Jones Elliott Kampen Khyle Marshall Kellen Dunham Emerson Kampen Kameron Woods Chase Stigall Andrew Smith

Pos. G-F G G F G G F G F G C F G C

Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.

ESPNU

Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.

ESPN2

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI Yr. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. Sr. So. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr.

Ht. 6-6 6-3 5-11 6-8 6-0 6-0 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-8 6-9 6-3 6-11

No. 0 1 2 3 10 13 15 20 21 23 24 31 32 42

Name Sam McLaurin D.J. Richardson Joseph Bertrand Brandon Paul Mike LaTulip Tracy Abrams Mike Shaw Myke Henry Devin Langford Ibby Djimde Rayvonte Rice Kevin Berardini Nnanna Egwu Tyler Griffey

Pos. F G G G G G F G/F G/F F/C G G F/C F

Yr. Gr. Sr Jr. Sr. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr.

Ht. 6-8 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-0 6-1 6-8 6-6 6-7 6-8 6-4 6-0 6-11 6-9

Third place

TEXAS LONGHORNS

MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES No. 0 1 5 10 12 13 22 23 25 30 33 42 54

Name Jamil Wilson Jamal Ferguson Junior Cadougan Juan Anderson Derrick Wilson Vander Blue Trent Lockett Jake Thomas Steve Taylor Jr. Dylan Flood Garrett Swanson Chris Otule Davante Gardner

Pos. F G G F G G G G F G F C F

Yr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Gr. Jr. Fr. So. So. Sr. Jr.

Ht. 6-7 6-4 6-1 6-6 6-1 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-7 6-4 6-7 6-11 6-8

No. 0 1 2 3 4 5 10 12 14 21 22 33 44 55

Name Dean Melchionni Sheldon McClellan Demarcus Holland Javan Felix Danny Newsome Jaylen Bond Jonathan Holmes Myck Kabongo Julien Lewis Connor Lammert Andrew Dick Ioannis Papapetrou Prince Ibeh Cameron Ridley

Pos. G G G G F F F G G F G F F/C C

Yr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So. So. So. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr.

Ht. 6-4 6-4 6-2 5-10 6-9 6-7 6-7 6-1 6-3 6-9 6-2 6-8 6-10 6-9

The Maui News

H I S T O R Y

MVPs

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

7

TEAM HISTORIES

2011—Ryan Kelly, Duke 2010—Kemba Walker, Connecticut 2009—Steven Gray and Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga 2008—Ty Lawson, North Carolina 2007—Kyle Singler, Duke 2006—Darren Collison, UCLA 2005—Adam Morrison, Gonzaga 2004—Raymond Felton, North Carolina 2003—Keith Waleskowski, Dayton 2002—Bracey Wright, Indiana 2001—Mike Dunleavy, Duke 2000—Michael Wright, Arizona 1999—Joseph Forte, North Carolina 1998—Jason Hart, Syracuse 1997—Steve Wojciechowski, Duke 1996—Raef LaFrentz, Kansas 1995—Kerry Kittles, Villanova 1994—Mario Bennett, Arizona St. 1993—Travis Ford, Kentucky 1992—Bobby Hurley, Duke; Anfernee Hardaway, Memphis St. 1991—George Gilmore, Chaminade 1990—Billy Owens, Syracuse 1989—Doug Smith, Missouri 1988—Glenn Rice, Michigan 1987—Iowa team 1986—Will Purdue, Vanderbilt 1985—Dell Curry, Virginia Tech 1984—Patrick Langlois, Chaminade

and

R E C O R D S

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

2012 participants in bold Duke 15-0 Syracuse 6-0 Connecticut 8-1 13-2 North Carolina 5-1 Dayton 10-4 Michigan 10-5 Kentucky 8-4 Michigan St. Vanderbilt 8-4 Gonzaga 6-3 Illinois 6-3 Iowa 6-3 Missouri 6-3 6-3 Ohio St. 6-3 Texas 4-2 Purdue 2-1 Alabama 2-1 Ball St. California 2-1 Cincinnati 2-1 Clemson 2-1 Florida 2-1 George Washington 2-1 Georgia Tech 2-1 Hawaii 2-1 2-1 James Madison 2-1 Marquette Minnesota 2-1 2-1 New Mexico 2-1 NC-Charlotte Rice 2-1 Toledo 2-1 Tulane 2-1 Utah St. 2-1 Wichita St. 2-1 Arizona 9-6 Arizona St. 9-6 Indiana 9-6 Kansas 9-6 Providence 3-2 Villanova 7-5 UCLA 7-5 Louisville 5-4 5-4 The Maui News file photos Santa Clara Virginia 6-5

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Steve Wojciechowski’s MVP performance in 1997 is part of why Duke is 15-0 in its five trips to the Maui Invitational. ◆ Jeronne Maymon grabs one of a tournament-record 20 rebounds he had for Tennessee in a double-overtime win over Memphis last year. ◆ Connecticut celebrates in 2005 after winning the first of the program’s two Maui titles. ◆ Indiana players pose with the championship trophy in 2002. ◆ Kerry Kittles was the tournament MVP in 1995, helping Villanova to the title.

1.000 1.000 .889 .867 .833 .714 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .600 .600 .600 .600 .600 .583 .583 .555 .555 .545

Maryland 6-6 Arkansas 3-3 BYU 3-3 Georgetown 3-3 3-3 Notre Dame 3-3 San Diego St. 3-3 South Carolina 3-3 UNLV 3-3 Wisconsin Virginia Tech 1-1 Memphis 7-8 Utah 4-5 Oklahoma 5-7 Kansas St. 2-3 4-8 DePaul 3-6 LSU 3-6 Stanford 2-4 Boston College 2-4 Massachusetts Tennessee 2-4 Arkansas St. 1-2 Baylor 1-2 Colorado 1-2 Evansville 1-2 Houston 1-2 Iowa St. 1-2 1-2 Long Beach St. 1-2 Loyola Marymount Nebraska 1-2 1-2 Northeastern 1-2 Oklahoma St. Oregon 1-2 Seton Hall 1-2 St. Joseph’s 1-2 Southern California 1-2 Tennessee Tech 1-2 Texas A&M 1-2 Virginia Commonwealth 1-2 Washington 1-2 Chaminade 6-76 Davidson 0-2 Central Michigan 0-3 Lamar 0-3 Princeton 0-3 Butler 0-0 Mississippi St. 0-0

.500 .500 .500 .333 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .467 .444 .417 .400 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .073 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000

CHAMPIONS 2011—Duke 2010—Connecticut 2009—Gonzaga 2008—North Carolina 2007—Duke 2006—UCLA 2005—Connecticut

2004—North Carolina 2003—Dayton 2002—Indiana 2001—Duke 2000—Arizona 1999—North Carolina 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

GAME RECORDS Individual 3-pointers—10, Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame, vs. North Carolina, 2008.

Points—43, Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, vs. Michigan St., 2005.

Turnovers—13, Maurice Houston, Tennessee Tech, vs. Texas, 1993.

Rebounds—20, Jeronne Maymon, Tennessee, vs. Memphis, 2011.

Team Assists—15, Brandon Granville, Southern California, vs. Memphis, 1999. Most points—162, Loyola Marymount, vs. Chaminade, 1990.

Steals—10, Jeff Trepagnier, Southern California, vs. Utah St., 1999.

Fewest points—37, Arizona St., vs. Minnesota, 1991.

Blocks—7, Zach Finley, Princeton, vs. Duke, 2007; Arne Alig, Chami- Rebounds—70, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990. nade, vs. Providence, 1991; Earl Barron, Memphis, vs. Chaminade, 1999; Assists—37, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.

Lonny Baxter, Maryland, vs. Dayton, 2000; Dan Godfread, Evansville, vs. Steals—20, Oklahoma, vs. BYU, 1992.

Missouri, 1989; Ray Gromlowicz, UNC-Charlotte, vs. Chaminade, 1986; Blocks—13, Maryland, vs. Dayton, 2000.

Jelani McCoy, UCLA, vs. Santa Clara, 1995; Tommy Smith, Arizona St., vs. Field goals—57, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.

Utah, 2002.

Free throws made—36, Iowa, vs. Kansas, 1987.

Field goals—16, Dell Curry, Virginia Tech, vs. Michigan, 1985; Everick 3-pointers—19, Loyola Marymount, vs. Chaminade, 1990.

Sullivan, Louisville, vs. Chaminade, 1989.

Turnovers—32, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990; Santa Clara, Free throws made—21, Kaspars Kambala, UNLV, vs. Louisville, 2000. vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.

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TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Longhorns deal with early uncertainty

By BRAD SHERMAN Sports Editor

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X

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Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

Even while short-handed, Texas has gone unbeaten leading up to its appearance in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

If the Longhorns are able to resolve some remaining uncertainty the way they would like, they could provide a tough test for opponents not only at the Lahaina Civic Center, but throughout the season.

Texas, which will face Chaminade on Monday in a firstround game, is unranked by The Associated Press, but holds the No. 24 spot in the USA Today coaches’ poll. In their two games this season, the Longhorns limited Fresno State and CopLewis pin State to a combined 30.2 percent shooting from the field, and outrebounded them 93-57.

That’s been done without two sophomores — forward Jaylen Bond, who suffered an ankle injury in practice last week, and guard Myck Kabongo, held out by the school as the NCAA investigates his relationship with an agent.

“We really haven’t discussed it as a team,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said, via email, of Kabongo’s absence. “It’s out of our control and out of Myck’s control, so there’s nothing we can do on our end except wait for the ruling to be made and move forward. … The guys have all worked hard and we’ve prepared for it.”

Sheldon McClellan, the Longhorns’ leading returning scorer, has totaled 45 points so far this season.

“I do need to shoot the ball when I’m open, and that’s something the coaching staff and my teammates have been stressing to me,” the 6-foot-4 sophomore

sistently at a high level, rebounding on both ends, taking care of the ball and making good decisions.”

McClellan averaged 11.3 points per game last season as Texas went 20-14, losing in the NCAA tournament»’s round of 64.

Kabongo was selected for the Big 12 all-rookie team last season after averaging 5.2 assists per game, and was a preseason all-conference first-teamer this year. Bond averaged 3.4 points, shooting 51.0 percent from the field (52-for-102), with 4.6 rebounds.

Even in their absence, and the departure of J’Covan Brown, who turned professional after averaging 19.5 points last season, the Longhorns have some experienced players beyond McClellan.

Julien Lewis averaged 7.8 points last season, and fellow sophomore Jonathan Holmes was second on the team in rebounding, with 4.8 per game.

Freshman guard Javan Felix had nine assists Monday against Coppin State, but also committed eight turnovers. He scored 10 points against Fresno State.

“We do think we are going to be a team that’s going to be balanced and can score inside and outside,” Barnes said.

Texas has been to the last 14 NCAA tournaments, a run that coincides with Barnes’ tenure. Among active streaks, it is the best by a team in this year’s Maui field, and tied for the fourth-longest in the nation.

“Every year at Texas, we want to compete for a national championship,” McClellan said. “But to do that, the goals are very simple. We want to get better as UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS photo a team and as individuals every day.

Sheldon McClellan, Texas’ top returning scorer, averaged 11.3 points per When you do that, everything else takes game last season. care of itself.” guard said in an email. “But I’m work- game … moving without the ball and ■ Brad Sherman is at sports@ ing on improving in every area of the reading the defense, playing defense con- mauinews.com

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TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

Silverswords have quartet of seniors

By BRAD SHERMAN

H A M I N A D E

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Sports Editor

Eric Bovaird encountered much that was new last season, his first as Chaminade’s coach.

Among the experiences that eluded him, however, was something the Silverswords have enjoyed only six times in nearly three decades — a win at the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

“It’s always on the back of my mind,” Bovaird said. “It’s a big deal for Chaminade.”

There’s reason to believe he could be part of another of those rare happenings.

The Silverswords have a pair of potent point guards, one of Bailey them an all-conference pick and the other a contributor to a previous Maui upset as well as one of the team’s four seniors.

“Obviously, Maui, we always want to win a game,” said Dominique Cooks, who was the first player off the bench in Chaminade’s most recent win at the Lahaina Civic Center, over Oklahoma in 2010. “This being my last Maui, I want to get a win.”

Lee Bailey, who shared last season’s Pacific West Freshman of the Year award after averaging 13.5 points and 3.6 assists, was named to the all-conference preseason team for 2012-13.

“We expect a lot out of Lee,” Bovaird said. “He was a good player last year, but he knows he has a lot of stuff to improve on.”

The Silverswords, 6-76 in the tournament’s 28 editions so far — they lost their three Maui games last year by an average of 28.3 points — will face Texas

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Dominique Cooks, who averaged 9.2 points per game last season, will seek to help Chaminade add to its total of six victories in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

squad. The Silverswords’ other seniors in the first round Monday.

The NCAA Division II team has six are also guards — Bennie Murray, who players back from last season’s 11-14 averaged 13.8 points per game last sea-

son, best among the returning players, Waly Coulibaly and DeAndre Haskins.

“That’s the biggest thing from last year to this year, is having that familiarity,” said Cooks, who averaged 9.2 points last season.

Haskins, who was sidelined by injuries last season, averaged 10.4 points in 2010-11, and “should be one of the better defenders in the league,” Bovaird said.

In Chaminade’s first three games this season, victories over Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon and a loss to defending D-II national champion Western Washington, Haskins has averaged 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Coulibaly is dealing with tendinitis in his knee, but Bovaird hopes to have him back for the games on Maui.

Murray’s 52 3-pointers last season led the team and ranked third in the PacWest.

“He’s really good offensively. He can score from anywhere on the court,” Bovaird said of Murray. “He’s turning into a good, strong player.”

The new additions for the Silverswords include their two tallest players, both listed as 6-foot-7. Rhys Murphy is a transfer from Oregon State who was a three-time national high school high jump champion in Australia, and Tyree Harrison has joined the team after playing at Citrus (Calif.) Junior College.

Chaminade, which has won just three times in the Maui Invitational front bracket, most recently in 2003, will be trying to defy expectations even after next week’s games. The Silverswords were picked sixth in the PacWest preseason poll.

“The team that we have, we have a lot of battlers,” Cooks said. “We have a lot of guys who like to play with their backs to the wall. I think that underdog role will suit us well.”

■ Brad Sherman is at sports@ mauinews.com

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TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

S Trojans revamp following tough season O U T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A

By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer

Renaldo Woolridge knows what the EA Sports Maui Invitational can do for a downtrodden team.

The senior transfer at Southern California played last season at Tennessee, which finished seventh a year ago at the Lahaina Civic Center while still recovering from a recruiting scandal involving former coach Bruce Pearl, but went on to reach the National Invitation Tournament’s second round.

The Trojans are coming off a tough season of their own — they finished 6-26, matching their lowest win total since Woolridge 1926 — and now have a roster that includes 10 transfers, eight from four-year schools.

Woolridge graduated from Tennessee with a degree in sociology and returned to his native Southern California area for his final season of eligibility.

“I think the biggest thing I remember was first of all just the atmosphere on Maui, just seeing how beautiful everything is, how peaceful the scene,” said Woolridge, who had 16 points and 14 rebounds in three games at last year’s event.

“I definitely remember the gym, the feeling of it. It kind of felt like a high school gym, so it was real warm inside, and that’s the one thing everyone noticed.”

Woolridge will play tour guide for his new teammates before they face Illinois in the last of Monday’s first-round games.

“My teammates have been asking me and a few of them saw me play in it last year, so they have been asking about how everything is like playing there,” said Woolridge, who averaged 4.3 points and

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA photo

Southern California’s Jio Fontan will get a chance to contribute at point guard after missing the last season and a half with injuries.

3.3 rebounds per game with the Volunteers last season.

“So it is cool to have that experience and try to give that back to our team, and I think it gives us an advantage being able to know what to expect.”

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Woolridge — son of the late Orlando Woolridge, who spent 13 seasons in the NBA — said USC can be better than the ninth-place finish in the Pac-12 predicted in a media poll.

The Trojans opened their season with

victories over Coppin State and Long Beach State.

“The ranking, I think that came from everything that happened last year, but we have a whole bunch of new transfers, a lot of guys who were hurt last year who are back healthy,” Woolridge said. “We are a new team, so we are just going to go out there and compete. You know, start to chop away at the rankings.”

The Trojans were down to six scholarship players late last season, but have point guard Jio Fontan back — he missed the last season and a half with injuries.

Fontan started his career at Fordham, where he averaged 15.3 points and 4.7 assists per game and was named to the Atlantic-10 all-rookie team in 2009-10.

Aaron Fuller, a transfer from Iowa, averaged 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season before suffering a shoulder injury. Dewayne Dedmon, one of three 7-footers on the roster, averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 20 starts last season before being sidelined by a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Wake Forest transfer J.T. Terrell is the starter at shooting guard. He averaged 11.1 points per game for the Demon Deacons two seasons ago.

“We have got 10 new players and guys back from being injured and all that kind of stuff,” said Kevin O’Neill, in his fourth season as USC’s coach. “It is the first year we have had a full roster of players, so we will find out a lot about ourselves in the tournament.”

“We think we are going to be very competitive in every game and we are excited to play every game. As I told our players: ‘We are going to let our playing do our talking.’ The only way to prove ourselves is to win games and we plan on doing that.”

■ Robert Collias can be reached at rcollias@mauinews.com

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TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

Illini to play four games in 50th state

By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer

L L I N O I S

11

The EA Sports Maui Invitational is fall semester finals week for the Illinois basketball team.

First-year coach John Groce has lectured the Fighting Illini to wins over Colgate and St. Francis. The final midterm before settling down at the Lahaina Civic Center will be a game against Hawaii tonight in Honolulu. “To be honest, going through that and understanding that it does take time, that the learning curve right now when I’m dealing with our 14 players from the standpoint of what they are trying to learn and what we’re wanting to do, it’s like having 14 freshmen, 14 Groce new guys,� Groce said during Big Ten media days.

Illinois, which went 17-15 last season, has won by an average of 22.5 points per game this season. “I want to acknowledge our seniors and our captains — they did a phenomenal job of having our guys ready to play,â€? Groce said after the victory over St. Francis. “These guys, from a mental standpoint, practiced really well. ‌ We have a chance to keep getting better.â€?

Illinois, which will meet Southern California to conclude Monday’s first-round play in Lahaina, was picked ninth in the Big Ten in a preseason media poll.

Among the players back is Brandon Paul, a senior guard who was a third-team allconference selection last season after averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and a team-best 2.9 assists per game.

This season, Paul is averaging 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

AP photo

Illinois’ Brandon Paul was a Big Ten third-teamer last season after averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and a team-best 2.9 assists per game.

Backcourt mate Tracy Abrams is chipping in 14.0 points, and 6-foot-9 senior center Tyler Griffey is averaging 13.5.

Groce said his wife is jealous of Griffey because of all the travel he has experi-

enced. After his freshman season he went to Germany and Belgium with Global Sports Academy. “He travels more than anybody in here, OK,� the coach said. “This guy has been

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Griffey said of the trip to the islands: “I’m real excited. I just looked. I keep track of every state I have made a basket in — and it’s 37, Hawaii will be my 37th state. It’s going to be a great learning experience for us to see where we’re at as a team and we are looking forward to it.�

Groce said being in the 50th state for more than a week will be a challenge. “I love my family, but my wife will tell you that I’m not the greatest Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hawaii guy.

I’m not,� Groce said. “We have got to keep it in perspective, but the one thing I tell those guys: ‘We are going to enjoy every day.’ “Everything that gets thrown at us gets thrown at us for a reason. You have got to learn from every circumstance that you go through. Right now, we have not got popped in the mouth yet and it will happen (in Hawaii).�

Groce came to Illinois after four seasons as Ohio’s coach. During his time with the Bobcats, their most exotic trip — outside of two visits to the NCAA tournament — was to the Las Vegas Invitational in 2010. “I am not a huge travel guy,� Groce said. “There is a transition going out, there is a transition coming back, both.

Physically, emotionally, mentally. ‌ There are factors: How much water are we drinking tomorrow, what are we eating on the plane, when are we sleeping, when are our bodies transitioning? All those things become factors, but I am excited that we are going to have the chance to play some really good competition and get more of a feel for where our team is at and what we need to work on. ‌ Don’t be mistaken, this is not a vacation. This is a business trip.� ■Robert Collias can be reached at rcollias@mauinews.com

The Mark and Debi Rolfing Charitable Foundation Honoring our Maui Keiki and Angel Babies

Congratulates the participants of the 2012 Maui Invitational

For further information contact: 930 Wainee Street, Suite 8, Lahaina, HI 96761