University of North Carolina Athletics
Know Your Opponent: Maui Invitational
November 21, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Carolina begins its seventh Maui tournament Monday seeking its fourth title in the event. After winning on three straight trips to paradise - 1999, 2004 and 2008 - the Tar Heels are looking to reverse some disappointing results from their most recent visits. The Maui tournament has been a consistent bellwether for UNC postseason success - when Carolina has won at the Lahaina Civic Center, the Tar Heels have made the Final Four, twice winning the national title. Here's a look at the 2016 field:
Chaminade (GoSwords.com)
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Rankings: NR KenPom, NR AP
Record: 2-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 2-0 (UNC 112, Chaminade 70, Nov. 21, 2012, Lahaina Civic Center)
The Silverswords are coming off consecutive down years but look poised to bounce back with a veteran team in 2016-17. Coach Eric Bovaird's team averaged 92.3 points per game last season, good for fifth nationally at the D-II classification, and his top four scorers return as seniors. Australian Kuany Kuany is the team's top returner, while Rohndell Goodwin poured in a career-high 29 points in an upset over nationally ranked Alaska-Anchorage in the season opener.
Connecticut (UConnHuskies.com)
Location: Storrs, Conn.
Rankings: No. 68 KenPom, RV AP
Record: 1-2
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 5-1 (UNC 77, UConn 70, Feb. 13, 2005, Hartford Civic Center)
Kevin Ollie's Huskies enter the week reeling from a 1-2 start that featured home losses to Wagner and Northeastern as well as a 3-point win at Loyola Marymount en route to Hawaii. There is some optimism around the team, however, after a players-only meeting called by senior Amida Brimah prior to Thursday's win at LMU. The Huskies also got some good news on freshman point guard Alterique Gilbert, who could play in Maui despite suffering a dislocated shoulder on Thursday. That said, going to the players-only meeting well in November is a little concerning, and the Huskies enter the week ranked 288th nationally in effective FG%.
Oklahoma State (OKState.com)
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Rankings: No. 61 KenPom, NR AP
Record: 3-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): OSU leads 1-0 (OSU 43, UNC 40, March 26, 1946, Madison Square Garden)
The first season for Oklahoma State under new head coach Brad Underwood is off to a flying start, who are 3-0 and averaging 107 points per game against the less-than-formidable trio of Campbell, Central Arkansas and New Orleans. But the former Stephen F. Austin boss has taken one of the more methodical teams in America and gotten them playing hard. SFA ranked in the top 10 nationally in defensive turnover rate all three years under Underwood, and he looks to have brought that with him to Stillwater. If the Tar Heels meet OSU in the semis Tuesday, it could be one of the more entertaining games of the year for Carolina. Guard Phil Forte is back for his fifth year after an elbow injury ended his season last November.
Georgetown (GUHoyas.com)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Rankings: No. 44 KenPom, NR AP
Record: 1-2
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Georgetown leads 5-4 (Georgetown 96, UNC 84 (OT), March 25, 2007, Meadowlands)
Like UConn, Georgetown is a traditional power limping into Maui with a pair of disappointing losses to its name already. The Hoyas led Maryland by six with 37 seconds left only to lose in regulation before spotting Arkansas State a 23-point first-half lead in a 78-72 loss last Thursday. But all is not lost for a Georgetown team that struggled to a 15-18 finish last season. The Hoyas are forcing turnovers at a high rate and getting to the line as effectively as anyone in the country, while grad transfer Rodney Pryor (Robert Morris) is making a sizzling 53 percent of his 3s so far.
Oregon (GoDucks.com)
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Rankings: No. 9 KenPom, No. 12 AP
Record: 2-1
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 4-0 (UNC 98, Oregon 69, Nov. 25, 2008, Lahaina Civic Center)
Oregon's uneven start can largely be attributed to the absence of star forward Dillon Brooks. The preseason All-American had surgery in July to repair a foot injury but the Ducks are hopeful he will get on the court this week in Maui. In Brooks' absence, Oregon got popped at Baylor 66-49 but bounced back with an impressive 22-point win over Valparaiso on Thursday. Chris Boucher has been outstanding to start, as the Canadian senior has made 78 percent of his 2s, 42 percent of his 3s and 89 percent of his free throw attempts.
Tennessee (UTSports.com)
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Rankings: No. 119 KenPom, NR AP
Record: 1-1
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 8-1 (UNC 101, UT 87, Nov. 24, 2006, Madison Square Garden)
Rick Barnes' second season at Tennessee started much in the same way that his first ended, as the Vols dropped an 82-69 decision at home to Chattanooga. UTC's Justin Tuoyo, who was limited to just eight points against Carolina, scorched the Vols for 22 points and 11 rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting. Defense was an issue in UT's first win as well - Appalachian State scored 1.15 points per possession last Tuesday. The future in Knoxville is bright, however. Freshman Jordan Bone, who scored 21 in his debut against the Mocs, leads a starting five that features four underclassmen.
Wisconsin (UWBadgers.com)
Location: Madison, Wis.
Rankings: No. 10 KenPom, No. 16 AP
Record: 2-1
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 2-1 (Wisconsin 79, UNC 72, March 26, 2015, Staples Center)
In stark contrast to Tennessee, Wisconsin returns its entire lineup in 2016-17. Led by preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Nigel Hayes, the Badgers are one of just three teams nationally to have every meaningful minute back from a year ago. UW challenged itself with a bear of an early non-conference road game and left Omaha with a 79-67 loss to Creighton. The Badgers took a whopping 39 3-pointers in that game and made 11, while the Blue Jays made half of their 16 attempts. Hayes' classmate Bronson Koenig was just 3 of 13 from deep that day, but he's a career 38 percent shooter on 3s and needs just 16 points for 1,000 in his career.
