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NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 8 teams for 2019 Maui Invitational

By Tristan Freeman

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: The Gonzaga Bulldogs pose for a photo with the 2018 Maui Invitational championship trophy after beating the Duke Blue Devils 89-87 at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: The Gonzaga Bulldogs pose for a photo with the 2018 Maui Invitational championship trophy after beating the Duke Blue Devils 89-87 at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – MARCH 03: A general view of the court at Stegeman Coliseum prior to the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats on March 3, 2015 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – MARCH 03: A general view of the court at Stegeman Coliseum prior to the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats on March 3, 2015 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

5. Georgia Bulldogs

Not only could the Maui Invitational have the No. 1 ranked team involved, but the possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft also could be around in Anthony Edwards. Ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2019 class, the 6’5 shooting guard could easily lead the SEC in scoring.

He’s part of a top-10 nationally ranked recruiting class, with four other top-100 players joining. Small forwards Christian Brown, Jaykwon Walton and Toumani Camara are coming aboard, along with former Texas A&M point guard commit Sahvir Wheeler. The Bulldogs also bring in grad transfer Donnell Gresham, who averaged 9.7 ppg and 3.1 apg last season at Northeastern.

There’s a really good chance that head coach Tom Crean will start up to four freshmen next season. Georgia won just 11 total games last season and lost their best player Nic Claxton to the NBA Draft early. William Jackson and Derek Ogbeide graduated as well, leaving just forward Rayshaun Hammonds as the only returning double-digit scorer. He also represents the only real size for Georgia next season unless some under the radar youngsters emerge in the rotation.

There’s a high ceiling for the Bulldogs from a talent perspective but this isn’t a recruiting class like Duke and Kentucky that can carry a team to 25+ wins. And Anthony would have to be as good as advertised. Anything less from him and Georgia could be around .500 next season. What hurts them the most is that the Maui Invitational is in November, so they only have a few games together to get things clicking. That’s just not enough time for them to compete and beat the top teams.

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