Maui Jim Maui Invitational Bracket Revealed
7/28/2015 11:55:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Hoosiers will play Wake Forest in their first game of the tournament
MAUI, HAWAII (July 28, 2015) – The Maui Jim Maui Invitational today announced its 2015 Championship Round bracket. The bracket sets up a potential championship game pitting two preseason top-10 teams and semifinal contests featuring four of the winningest teams in NCAA history. The 32nd edition of the nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament will be held Nov. 23-25 at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii.
Indiana will begin play at the tournament against Wake Forest on Nov. 23 at 12:00pm (HT)/5:00pm (ET) and will take on the winner/loser of Vanderbilt/St. John's the following day.
The Championship Round will feature Indiana, Kansas, St. John's, UCLA, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and host Chaminade. With teams originating from all parts of the country, the Maui Jim Maui Invitational will draw a national audience. All 12 Championship Round games of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be televised by the ESPN family of networks.
The teams of the Championship Round have combined to win 20 national championships, 11 from NCAA leader UCLA, 47 trips to the Final Four and 215 NCAA Tournament berths. Indiana, Kansas, St. John's, UCLA appeared in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, with the Bruins advancing to their second straight regional semifinal. Indiana and Kansas rank in the top 10 in various early-season projections, while the Hoosiers, Jayhawks, Red Storm and Bruins are among the top 10 all-time winningest programs in NCAA Division I history. Kansas ranks second, UCLA is seventh, St. John's ranks eighth and Indiana is 10th.
The 2015 Maui Jim Maui Invitational will mark the first Tournament appearance for St. John's and Wake Forest, both under the guidance of former NBA All-Stars. The Red Storm will be led in Maui by their all-time leading scorer, Chris Mullin, who is in his first year as head coach at his alma mater. Meanwhile, former Kansas All-American Danny Manning, who participated in the 1987 Maui Jim Maui Invitational with the Jayhawks, will guide the Demon Deacons into their first Maui appearance.
"The Maui Jim Maui Invitational is sure to deliver three days of the best basketball of the early season," Tournament Chairman Dave Odom said. "This bracket features compelling matchups and exciting storylines starting on day one. It is said that the path to the Final Four starts in Maui. I have no doubt that this statement will be true this year."
Prior to heading to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the seven island teams will host one of four regional games participants in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational Opening Games. Those games are scheduled for Nov. 13-16. The four mainland teams will participate in the Regional Games at the University of Northern Colorado Nov. 21 and 22.
Opening Games Schedule
November 13
Northern Colorado at Kansas
Cal Poly at UNLV
Austin Peay at Vanderbilt
UMBC at Wake Forest
November 15
Cal Poly at UCLA
November 16
Austin Peay at Indiana
UMBC at St. John's
Regional Games Schedule
November 21
Northern Colorado vs. UMBC
Cal Poly vs. Austin Peay
November 22
UMBC vs. Cal Poly/Austin Peay
Northern Colorado vs. Cal Poly/Austin Peay
Maui Jim Activation
As part of its first year as title sponsor, Maui Jim is launching a sweepstakes in which one lucky fan will win a trip for two to this year's Maui Jim Maui Invitational. The winner will receive round trip coach airfare, tournament tickets, hotel accommodations and much more. The sweepstakes is scheduled to launch on August 6. Log on to the Maui Jim Facebook page and Twitter feed for more information.
About the Maui Jim Maui Invitational
In December 1982, then No. 1 ranked Virginia, led by National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, played little-known NAIA Chaminade University in Honolulu while on the way back from a trip to Tokyo. The Silverswords stunned Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984, Chaminade University hosted the first Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 31 years running. Each year, the Maui Jim Maui Invitational attracts the top programs, best-known coaches and most outstanding players to compete in an exciting atmosphere at the Lahaina Civic Center near the beautiful beaches of Maui.
About Maui Jim Sunglasses
Maui Jim sunglasses were born on the beaches of Maui and designed to protect eyes from the harsh rays of the island sun. Today, Maui Jim is recognized for unparalleled " Aloha Spirit" and customer service as well as patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology, which blocks 100% of UV rays and eliminates glare while enhancing color, definition and depth perception. Maui Jim sunglasses have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as an effective UV filter for the eyes and surrounding skin. For more information, visit MauiJim.com or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @OfficialMauiJim.
About Tournament Sponsors
Other tournament sponsors include the Maui Visitors Bureau, County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, adidas, GEICO and Hawaiian Airlines. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and Westin Maui Resort & Spa, all located in the beautiful Ka'anapali Beach Resort area, serve as host hotels.