NCAA Basketball: 2023 Maui Invitational preview and prediction

Predictions

We don’t need to get into every possible matchup in this event, nobody wants to do that much thinking, but let’s take a look at some potential semi final and finals matchups.

Tennessee vs Purdue

Tennessee should cruise past a Syracuse team that struggles to defend, and Purdue shouldn’t have any issues with a Gonzaga team that they dismantled last season (add in the fact that Purdue got better and Gonzaga got worse and it may be another blowout). This sets up a savory matchup between two of the nation’s best. Scrimmages don’t always mean much, but I do think the Arkansas vs Purdue scrimmage holds some weight when looking at Purdue’s potential.

Arkansas has one of the deepest backcourts in the country and a deep, athletic front-court. In front of a home crowd they were able to squeak out a win against Purdue. When I look at Tennessee, I simply don’t think they have enough in order to beat this Purdue team. They will struggle to handle Edey and the scoring droughts they are known for will come back to bite them in this matchup. Purdue moves onto the championship game.

Kansas vs Marquette

This might end up being the game of the tournament. Both teams have some of the elite guards in the country and Hunter Dickinson is looking to establish himself as the best player on the best team. I think this ends up being a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair that Kansas ultimately wins in the end. I wouldn’t be totally surprised if Marquette was able to pull off the ‘upset,’ but Kansas should have the skill and the depth in order to handle the best of the Big East. This sets up a grudge match in the championship game between Dickinson and Edey. Kansas moves on.

Purdue vs Kansas

I think the only matchup that matters between Dickinson and Edey is the battle they had last season. They went for 21-7 and 19-9, respectively, in a game that Purdue was able to win 75-70. Obviously, Kansas is a much different team than Michigan, but it goes to show that Dickinson may be the only player in the country who can go toe to toe with Edey by himself. I would love to see this as the championship game because both teams are looking to prove themselves, just for much different reasons. Purdue wants to prove they are the real deal after losing to FDU in the first-round last year, and Kansas wants the country to know they are the team to beat.

In the end, I think Purdue has just a little more motivation to win this one. Their guards are looking for a big stage to show they have what it takes, and I think they are able to knock down their perimeter shots. This matchup has the makings of a fantastic game, and I would love to see how Bill Self handles a guy like Edey, but I have Purdue winning a close one, 77-74.