Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 8 teams for 40th Maui Invitational Tournament

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 23, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) reacts after a play against the UCLA Bruins during the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) reacts after a play against the UCLA Bruins during the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Marquette Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Marquette Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Marquette Golden Eagles

There’s no mystery concerning what this next team will look like, as Marquette brings back almost its entire squad from the team that won the Big East last season and got a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They didn’t need to use the transfer portal this offseason, with 8 of the top 9 players returning.

That includes Tyler Kolek, who averaged 12.9 ppg and 7.5 apg last season, en route to earning Big East Player of the Year honors. Leading scorer Kameron Jones (15.1 ppg), is back, along with starting guard Stevie Mitchell and forward Oso Ighodaro.

The only player that isn’t back for the Golden Eagles is Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a versatile double-digit scoring forward that was picked in the first round of the NBA Draft. It’s certainly a blow but the program is equipped to replace him with David Joplin, who was Big East 6th Man of the Year last season and is just as good as an offensive weapon as Prosper.

The defense for the Eagles may take a hit but the offense could get better. This is going to be a top-5 caliber roster next season and one that could very well win the Maui Invitational. Yet there are a couple of programs that on paper, could have an evern higher ceiling than them.

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