NCAA Basketball: 2019 Maui Invitational preview and predictions

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 22: Fans pack the Lahaina Civic Center to watch the Maui Invitational NCAA college basketball game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 22, 2016 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 06: Devon Dotson #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks dribbles the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Day 3 predictions

Virginia Tech vs UCLA

The final day will begin with UCLA taking on Virginia Tech in a battle of first-year coaches. Although the cupboard was fuller for Cronin when he took over at UCLA than it was for Young at Virginia Tech, I think it is the Hokies that have been playing the better of the two heading into Maui. The Hokies are scoring at a clip like Young’s old Wofford teams did, at 80 points per game, but defensively they have also put the clamps down giving up just 55 per game. I think that is the difference in this one as the Hokie defense forces a UCLA team shooting just 34.5% into contested shots and come away with the win.

Prediction: Virginia Tech

Dayton vs Chaminade

In what can only be seen as a disappointment for Dayton, they will finally come away with a win in their last game when they take on Chaminade. I expect Toppin to have a huge game and a double-double, it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jalen Crutcher or Rodney Chatman with one for the Flyers as well.

Prediction: Dayton

Third-place game: BYU vs Georgia

The third-place game is a guard-lovers dream with BYU and Georgia going head-to-head. While the focus on this one will be on Edwards and Toolson, two guys I will be watching are the Cougars’ Haws and the Bulldogs’ Wheeler. Like a lot of BYU’s guards, Haws does a little bit of everything as he leads the team in assists and steals and is 2nd on the team in scoring. Wheeler has gotten off to a good start in his first season, the 5-10 guard is shooting 38.5% from the field and has dished out 3.6 assists per game. I think it’ll be the BYU Cougars will finish in third place with a three-point barrage against Georgia.

Prediction: BYU

Championship game: Michigan State vs Kansas

In the title game, even in a loaded field, it will be the Spartans and Jayhawks facing off. There will be key battles all over the floor in this one, Dotson vs. Winston, Tillman, and Henry vs. Azubuike and McCormack, but the team that takes home the title will be the team that gets the better game from their ancillary pieces. For Michigan State that is Kithier, Gabe Brown, Rocket Watts and Kyle Aherns, and for Kansas, that means Garrett, Isaiah Moss, Ogbaji, and Tristan Enaruna.

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In the end, I think we will see the Kansas Jayhawks taking home the Maui title with a hard-fought two-possession win.

Prediction: Kansas

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