NCAA Basketball: Ranking most interesting 2024 Maui Invitational openers

2. UConn vs. Memphis

The Maui Invitational will be one of the biggest spotlight opportunities of the non-conference slate for the UConn Huskies, a program that will be seeking a rare three-peat this year. Their road through Hawaii starts in Memphis.

This Huskies squad will be much different from last year's champions (who in turn were different from the previous year's champions, too). Tristen Newton, Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer, and Stephon Castle are all trying to make it work in the NBA this season.

Still, there will be plenty of star power to behold on the Huskies. Alex Karaban returns, seeking the same three-peat as his coach. Aidan Mahaney transferred in from St. Mary's, while Liam McNeeley comes in as part of another star-studded class.

Memphis is full of a bunch of new names, too, including a spread of transfers. Those incoming include Tyrese Hunter, PJ Haggerty, Colby Rogers, Dain Dainja, and Moussa Cisse. That's a high-profile list.

But what may be more interesting for the Tigers is who is still around: Penny Hardaway. There hasn't been any real hot seat chatter regarding the program alum, who has led the team to at least 20 wins in each of his six seasons. He has only taken two trips to the NCAA Tournament, though, and none past the first weekend. Beating the defending champs in Maui could do plenty to secure Hardaway's seat into the future.

Fun fact: this is a rubber game for these two programs, which have taken eight apiece in their historic series. In addition to looking for its third straight title, the Huskies are also looking to win their third Maui Invitational and first since 2010, when Kemba Walker won the tournament MVP. UConn went on to win the national title that year.