Preview and picks for 2023 Maui Invitational

The 2023 Maui Invitational will tip off this afternoon with all first-round games airing on ESPN2 and ESPNU. Due to the devastation from the Maui wildfires in August, this year’s tournament has been moved to the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawai’i.

This year’s field is stacked as it will feature No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Purdue, No. 4 Marquette, No. 11 Gonzaga, No. 7 Tennessee, and Syracuse, along with host team Chaminade from the Division II ranks. This is a single-elimination tournament, and losing teams will continue to play each other in a consolation bracket for third-to-eighth place.

Kansas: (3-0)

RPI: 14
KenPom: 4 Overall, 11 Adjusted Offense, 5 Adjusted Defense
Against the spread: 2-1
Over: 3-0

Kansas has gotten off to a fast start as the No. 1 team in the nation and is fresh off an 89-84 victory over Kentucky in Chicago last Saturday. Top transfer Hunter Dickinson has been dominant through his first three games with the Jayhawks, averaging 22 points and 12.3 rebounds.

Purdue: (3-0)

RPI: 22
KenPom: 2 Overall, 1 Adjusted Offense, 11 Adjusted Defense
Against the spread: 2-1
Over: 2-1

No. 2 Purdue has hit the ground running as it tries to eliminate the stench of last year’s first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers passed their first big test last Monday when downing Xavier 83-71. Zach Edey has been dominant as expected, averaging 20.7 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game.

Marquette: (3-0)

RPI: 10
KenPom: 11 Overall, 8 Adjusted Offense, 19 Adjusted Defense
Against the spread: 2-1
Over: 2-1

The reigning Big East champions have also looked go so far this season and cleared its first big hurdle in a 71-64 road victory at Illinois last Tuesday night. Junior guard Kam Jones has picked up from where he left off last season with 19.3 points per game through Marquette’s first three outings.

Gonzaga: (2-0)

RPI: 13
KenPom: 7 Overall, 3 Adjusted Offense, 31 Adjusted Defense
Against the spread: 1-0
Over: 1-0

Gonzaga is off to a a quick start and is looking to put some quality wins on its resume after blowing out Yale and Eastern Oregon to start the season. Freshman Braden Huff has stepped up with 21 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Tennessee: (3-0)

RPI: 81
KenPom: 9 Overall, 23 Adjusted Offense, 4 Adjusted Defense
Against the spread: 2-1
Over: 2-1

The Preseason SEC favorite Vols have rolled out to a 3-0 start to the season and already has a quality road victory against Wisconsin on their resume. As expected, UT is already stifling opponents on the defensive end by holding its foes to just 35.8% shooting from the field.

UCLA: (3-0)

RPI: 252
KenPom: 35 Overall, 75 Adjusted Offense, 12 Adjusted Defense
Against the spread: 1-2
Over: 0-3

UCLA is also 3-0 as it tries to figure things out with a young lineup on the floor this season. The Bruins have won all three of their games by a comfortable margin, including last Wednesday’s 78-58 shellacking of Long Island. Sophomore Adem Bona has stepped up with 18 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Syracuse: (3-0)

RPI: 21
KenPom: 116 Overall, 82 Adjusted Offense, 171 Adjusted Defense
Against the spread: 0-3
Over: 2-1

The first year of the post-Jim Boeheim era is underway at Syracuse as new head coach Adrian Autry is off to a 3-0 start. The Orange have had some close calls already as they had to rally back from a 24-point second half deficit to beat Colgate last Tuesday.

Chaminade: (1-2)

RPI: N/A
KenPom: N/A
Against the spread: N/A
Over: N/A

As is tradition, Division II Chaminade hosts the tournament and plays in it every other year. They go toe-to-toe against some of the best squads in Division I, and of course pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game.

Schedule

Monday, November 20

No. 7 Tennessee vs. Syracuse, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Spread: Tennessee -12.5
Total: 146
Moneyline: Tennessee -950, Syracuse +625

Pick: Under 146

No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Gonzaga, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Spread: Purdue -5
Total: 154.5
Moneyline: Purdue -205, Gonzaga +170

Pick: Purdue -5

No. 1 Kansas vs. Chaminade, 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Spread: Kansas -42.5
Total: 151.5
Moneyline: N/A

Pick: Chaminade +42.5

No. 4 Marquette vs. UCLA, 11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Spread: Marquette -6
Total: 141.5
Moneyline: Marquette -258, UCLA +210

Pick: Marquette -6