Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 10 key storylines for 2019 non-conference tournaments

By Tristan Freeman

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 12: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks brings the ball up the court during the second half of the game at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 12: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks brings the ball up the court during the second half of the game at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

5. Kansas and Michigan State on Maui collision course

The Maui Invitational is the annual top attraction among all the non-conference tournaments, featuring at least one of two top-10 teams. This year is no different, with both Kansas and Michigan State the headliners this time around. And although these were the two losing teams in the most recent Champions Classic contest, a true argument can be made that both the Spartans and Jayhawks have looked better overall compared to both Duke and Kentucky.

Both are on opposite sides of the bracket and will be clear favorites to meet up in the finals but don’t overlook a talented UCLA squad or a Georgia team that may have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft in Anthony Edwards. In the end though, all neutral observers are silently hoping that the heavyweights can face off in the end for another potential instant classic to be seen.

6. Final Four contenders all over the Battle 4 Atlantis

While the Maui Invitational may provide us with the best potential individual matchup, the Battle 4 Atlantis may end up as this year’s best overall event. It features four teams currently ranked in the AP poll top-13 (Gonzaga, Oregon, North Carolina and Seton Hall) and features some of the very best players in all of NCAA Basketball (Killian Tillie, Myles Powell, Payton Pritchard and Cole Anthony). Other high majors include Michigan, Alabama and Iowa State who all could benefit from playing and beating the contenders.

We’re guaranteed to see some of the top teams playing one another (Oregon and Seton Hall face off in the quarterfinals) and it’ll go a long way in showing the strengths and weaknesses for each program. All four teams have Final Four potential but only one will come out with all the praise and fanfare.

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