LAHAINA, Hawaii — Aloha from the Maui Invitational! The greatest in-season college basketball event has delivered once again, as it always does, and how great it is to have the Maui Invitational back at the Lahaina Civic Center. COVID and the 2023 wildfires prevented this hallowed, humble gymnasium from hosting its premier event in 2020, 2021 and 2023.
After Monday’s action, and with some tributes to Maui mainstay, the late Bill Walton, I’m all the more appreciative that the Lahaina natives are once again hosting such a magical event.
Each day I’m going to publish a notebook of what I’ve seen and pepper in some observations and quotes from my one-on-one with coaches here in paradise. This story will update multiple times before Monday’s done.
Auburn rallies late to top Iowa State
Maui Magic is so real. See: UConn-Memphis and Auburn-Iowa State.
After being down to No. 5 Iowa State by as many as 18 with 4:18 left in the first half, No. 4 Auburn stormed back, took a 75-73 lead with 4:01 and ultimately won on a Johni Broome put-back with less than two seconds to pull off an 83-81 win. The scene was incredible, as scenes often are in this cozy gym on the western coast of one of the most picturesque islands in the world.
A top-five matchup that came down to the final play. We can’t ask for better.
God. Bless. Maui.
I’ve got more to come shortly, right after I talk with Bruce Pearl and TJ Otzelberger about what transpired.
College basketball is better for Dan Hurley’s villain turn
If you’d like to read up on Memphis’ 99-97 instant-classic overtime win over the No. 2 UConn Huskies, you can see my gamer right here.
I’d like to dedicate about 250 words right now to Hurley’s antics from Monday. UConn had seven team fouls within the first six minutes and Hurley was lava-like toward the officials even earlier than that. He hunted a technical foul, finally earning an ill-timed T with 40 seconds remaining in a 92-92 overtime game. Afterward, Hurley told me he didn’t think the T cost his team the game. He thought his team didn’t get a fair shake from the zebras.
Maui Invitational Takeaways: Auburn’s and Memphis’ wins remind us of Maui Magic’s very real power
