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Josh Gross
College basketball’s signature Feast Week has arrived, and it’s headlined as always by the Maui Invitational. The Maui Invitational has been a staple of early-season college basketball for years and consistently gives fans a look at some of the sport’s best teams. As an added bonus, the tournament returns to Lahaina, Maui, for the first time since 2019.
2022 Maui Invitational Bracket
Bracket per NCAA.com
2022 Maui Invitational Schedule
The 2022 Maui Invitational will take place from Monday, Nov. 21 through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Below, you’ll see the schedule with start times, TV channels and projected spreads from Kenpom for Monday’s games.
Monday, Nov. 21
- Game 1: Texas Tech vs. Creighton (-1) | 2:30 PM ET | ESPN2
- Game 2: Louisville vs. Arkansas (-13) | 5:00 PM ET | ESPN2
- Game 3: Ohio State vs. San Diego State (-2) | 9:00 PM ET | ESPNU
- Game 4: Cincinnati vs. Arizona (-8) | 11:30 PM ET | ESPN2
Tuesday, Nov. 22
- Game 5: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser | 2:30 PM ET | ESPN2
- Game 6: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser | 5 PM ET | ESPN2
- Game 7: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner | 8 PM ET | ESPN
- Game 8: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner | 10:30 PM ET | ESPN
Wednesday, Nov. 23
- Fifth-place game: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner | 2:30 PM ET | ESPN2
- Championship game: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner | 5 PM ET | ESPN
- Seventh-place game: Game 5 Loser vs. Game 6 Loser | 7:30 PM ET | ESPNU
- Third-place game: Game 7 Loser vs. Game 8 Loser | 10 PM ET | ESPN2
2022 Maui Invitational Teams
The 2022 Maui Invitational will consist of the following teams:
Arizona
Strengths: Arizona plays at one of the fastest paces in the country, boasts one of the highest assist rates and has shot over 45% from three-point range.
Weaknesses: So far in 2022, the Wildcats have turned the ball over on almost 25% of possessions while only turning over its opponents on 15% of possessions.
Arkansas
Strengths: Arkansas has been strong defensively to open the season, turning over opponents on 28% of possessions (ninth in the nation) and limiting them to 22% from beyond the arc.
Weaknesses: The Razorbacks have elite athletes, but they’ve struggled to shoot the ball so far this season. They’re sinking just 27% of their three-point attempts and 64% of their free throws.
Cincinnati
Strengths: The Bearcats have turned the ball over on less than 15% of their possessions (top-50) and have rebounded 38% of their missed shots (30th in the country).
Weaknesses: Cincinnati has struggled offensively as they rank outside the top-200 in three-point percentage and two-point percentage and free-throw percentage.
Creighton
Strengths: The Bluejays rank inside the top-60 in the nation in effective field goal percentage, turnover percentage, offensive and defensive rebounding and two-point percentage per Kenpom.
Weaknesses: Through four games, Creighton has allowed inferior opponents to shoot over 38% from three-point range.
Louisville
Strengths: Louisville has looked awful this season, but they shoot 78% from the free throw line and have limited opponents’ offensive rebounding percentage to just 19%
Weaknesses: The Cardinals turn the ball over at one of the highest rates in the country and turn over their opponents at one of the lowest rates in the country.
Ohio State
Strengths: The Buckeyes rank top-50 in the country in offensive rebounding percentage and two-point percentage on offense. On defense, they’ve suffocated inferior competition thus far and rank inside the top 15 in opponent three-point percentage, two-point percentage and effective field goal percentage.
Weaknesses: Ohio State has faced weak competition through three games and has failed to turn over its opponents, resulting in below a 6% steal rate.
San Diego State
Strengths: On offense, the Aztecs are assisting on 60% of their made field goals. On defense, their 17% steal rate ranks top-10 in the nation.
Weaknesses: San Diego State hasn’t rebounded as well as its capable of thus far, but they haven’t any other glaring weaknesses.
Texas Tech
Strengths: The Red Raiders have dominated their opponents defensively, ranking top-10 in effective field goal percentage to start the season.
Weaknesses: Texas Tech has turned the ball over on over 25% of their possessions despite playing three home games against mid and low-major competition.
Maui Invitational Past Winners
Here are all of the Maui Invitational winners since 2000:
- 2021: Wisconsin
- 2020: Texas
- 2019: Kansas
- 2018: Gonzaga
- 2017: Notre Dame
- 2016: North Carolina
- 2015: Kansas
- 2014: Arizona
- 2013: Syracuse
- 2012: Illinois
- 2011: Duke
- 2010: UConn
- 2009: Gonzaga
- 2008: North Carolina
- 2007: Duke
- 2006: UCLA
- 2005: UConn
- 2004: North Carolina
- 2003: Dayton
- 2002: Indiana
- 2001: Duke
- 2000: Arizona
2022 Maui Invitational Betting Odds
Below is a list of each team’s betting odds to win the 2022 Maui Invitational, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Arkansas +250
- Arizona +300
- Creighton +450
- San Diego State +500
- Texas Tech +550
- Ohio State +950
- Cincinnati +3500
- Louisville +9500
2022 Maui Invitational Best Bets
Creighton to Win the Maui Invitational
Creighton has just the third-best odds to win the 2022 Maui Invitational, and that’s largely due to the path they’d have to take to get to the championship. The Bluejays project as just one-point favorites in their opening game against Texas Tech while Arkansas and Arizona project as much bigger favorites. Despite the tough path on paper, Greg McDermott’s squad has the tools to win a tournament like this. Creighton doesn’t turn the ball over, rebounds well, doesn’t foul and can score in a multitude of ways thanks to a balanced roster with solid depth. Winning three games in three days requires depth and versatility because sometimes, shots just won’t fall. With the Bluejays’ ability to control the pace of the game and limit mistakes, I like their chances a little bit more than Arkansas and Arizona. I’d also be willing to sprinkle a small wager Ohio State at +950.
