An Ode To The Maui Invitational - Proved Once Again That It Will Always Be Everything Perfect About College Hoops, The Best Event In The Sport (Outside Of March)

I wanted to write something quick about the Maui Invitational before everyone starts traveling, drinking, refusing to work, Thanksgiving stuff. Why? Because it's on life support. It's been swallowed by the Players Era, which is growing even more next year and obviously teams want anything to do with money. But the Maui? The Maui is perfect. 

First - we have a bracket. That's really the biggest thing here. There's no doubt the Players Era Festival has better teams, there's been good games, but for what? Nothing really. I don't care about NIL money being out there. I want to see a bracket, teams playing for something and not a tournament decided by scoring margin on 2 games with a random draw. I know next year the Players is changing, which is at least better for a tournament setting, but still a mess: 

But meanwhile at the Maui we had 8 teams, including Chaminade, playing in that tiny gym and the iconic look still works. The Maui Invitational is sort of the kickoff for college basketball. I know we have the Champions Classic and plenty of notable games before hand, but this is the week where people really pay attention to the sport. Hard to beat the late night tips, plus day games when you're getting through a rather pointless week in the cubes. And even yesterday we had Seton Hall upset NC State and end some history: 

We had Chaminade lead Washington State late before losing. We had USC and Rodney Rice going nuts in a close game against Boise State. It was proof that despite the field, no matter the matchups, it always delivers. It's the fact these guys are playing for something that everyone knows. I don't know if I'm truly just old now but give me the Tournament that I grew up with. I was on with Mostly. Hoops last week and brought this up with Titus, who delivered a perfect rant on it: 

I don't know how the Maui saves itself. They need to have some sort of money involved because that's all colleges care about these days. It sucks. Again, I don't care that guys get paid. Go make as money as possible. But it's the fact it's trying to destroy some of the iconic events, the iconic moments, the things we grew up with is where I have to draw a line. Just like last night though, you can't kill the Maui Invitational. Doesn't matter the field, doesn't matter the teams, doesn't matter the year. It delivers as the gold standard of Feast Week.