2023 Bracketology: Biggest impact matchups to watch during Feast week
Maui Invitational November 21-23, Lahaina, Hawaii
The first stop is the Hawaiian Islands for the Maui Invitational. This field is loaded with over half the field in the top 25 and Ohio State is not all that far off from making it six of eight. If you want to rack up some quad 1 wins this is the MTE to be in. From the opening tip to the trophy presentation, Lahaina is the place to be.
The first game of the tournament features a nice contrast in styles with the offensively efficient and balanced Creighton Bluejays (4-0) taking on one of the best defensive teams in the country, the No. 23 Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0). Greg McDermott’s squad scores 85.5 points per game and is the 23rd-best team in offensive efficiency at Kenpom. They boast four guys in double figures and one of them is newcomer Baylor Scheierman a transfer from South Dakota State who has done everything for the Bluejays averaging 10.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and two assists for the No. 10 Bluejays.
The Red Raiders are the 6th best defensive efficiency team in the country and are also one of the best teams in the country when it comes to two-point shot defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 39%. This will be something to keep an eye on in this game because Creighton is one of the better squads at converting inside the arc. The winner of this one will get a big resume check mark and a chance for another in the next round as Arkansas will likely be waiting.
The second game features the No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks (3-0) who once again seem to hit the transfer portal jackpot against the power-five school that has struggled the most so far this season, the Louisville Cardinals (0-3). While walking the recruiting trail this summer, Eric Musselman found pay dirt on his way to the transfer portal pot of gold and it has paid big dividends early for the Hogs.
Even with an entirely new roster, it looks as though the Razorbacks haven’t missed a beat on either end of the floor with three players averaging 10 or more points per game and six pulling down three or more rebounds, which makes sense because Arkansas has the 6th tallest team in the nation. On the defensive end, they are in the top 40 in both three-point and two-point percentage defense and have turned their opponents over 21 times per game through three games.
To say Louisville has struggled is a severe understatement under new coach Kenny Payne. The Cardinals go to Hawaii in search of their first victory after three straight one-point losses to Bellarmine, Wright State, and Appalachian State to begin the year. That win may come in Hawaii but I don’t think it will come against Arkansas.
The other side of the bracket has Ohio State (3-0) taking on No. 17 San Diego State (3-0) in a game where both teams will be looking to make a statement. For the ranked Aztecs, it’s about continuing the offensive roll they’ve started the season on, an area they struggled mightily with at times last season. For the Buckeyes, this is where the statement road can begin, with Duke waiting in the wings after this tournament and No. 1 North Carolina on the docket before Christmas.
No. 14 Arizona (3-0) battles Cincinnati (3-1) in the final first-round game. The Wildcats are looking to show that Tommy Lloyd’s first year was no fluke and that not only should they be considered the Pac-12 favorites, but also nationally dangerous. It’s early in the season so any win is important, but with the level of competition in Maui, every win might mean just a little bit more under examination by the selection committee. The Maui Invitational holds major opportunities for the entire field which should lead to fantastic feast week viewing.