NEWS

A strong field of former national champions including Arizona, Cincinnati, Maryland, and Wisconsin will join Gonzaga, Vanderbilt, Colorado and Tournament host Chaminade University of Honolulu to compete for the coveted Wayne Duke Championship Trophy. Two former Maui champions, Arizona (2000) and Vanderbilt (1986) will return to the islands in search of another Maui title and early-season bragging rights. Four of the seven Division I teams in the 2009 lineup participated in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, highlighted by runs to the Sweet Sixteen by Arizona and Gonzaga. In all, 85 schools representing 21 conferences and 38 states have competed in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, with Maui participants having won an astounding 55 of 71 NCAA championships, 55 of 71 national runner-up spots and comprise 214 of 284 Final Four teams.

"This year's Tournament showcases another field of outstanding competition," said Tournament Chairman Dave Gavitt. "We will celebrate the 26th annual Tournament with a powerhouse field. College basketball fans from around the globe can look forward to another remarkable week of basketball at its finest."

The ESPN networks will combine once again to offer live television coverage of all 12 Tournament games. For the first time, every game will be produced in high definition on ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPNU HD, with the ESPN and ESPN2 games also streaming live on ESPN360.com.

Matchups underscore strength of field

The start of the 2009 basketball season tips off on Monday, Nov. 23, with Game One featuring Colorado, a Big 12 Maui-newcomer guided by coach Jeff Bzdelik, against 2009 West Coast Conference Tournament Champion and two-time Maui veteran, Gonzaga, with coach Mark Few who has led the Bulldogs to an NCAA Tournament berth every year since he took the position in 1999. Game Two pits Mick Cronin's Cincinnati Bearcats, which have finished in the Top 10 of the final polls in seven of the past 13 years, against former SEC Coach of the Year Kevin Stallings and Vanderbilt, winner of three SEC regular season titles. Host school Chaminade will battle in Game Three, as Matt Mahar, the winningest coach in the school's history by percentage, leads the home state Silverswords against former national champion Maryland steered by legendary coach and Maryland alumni, Gary Williams. Williams has led the Terrapins to 13 NCAA Tournaments berths in 16 years, including seven Sweet Sixteen appearances, a pair of consecutive Final Four showings and the 2002 national championship. Game Four pairs newly-named head coach Sean Miller guiding former national champion Arizona, a team that has reached the NCAA Tournament for 25 consecutive years, against the Big Ten's Wisconsin Badgers, the Bo Ryan-led team looking to bring home a piece of Maui glory.

The semifinals will take place Tuesday, Nov. 24 with the winner of the Chaminade - Maryland game tipping off against the Cincinnati - Vanderbilt winner in the first semifinal game scheduled at 7 p.m. Eastern time, followed by the second semifinal game between the Colorado - Gonzaga winner and the Arizona - Wisconsin winner scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN. Winners of the semifinals will advance to the championship game Wednesday, Nov. 25 scheduled at 10 p.m. Eastern time (also on ESPN).

Tickets and Travel Packages

Tickets are available via the official Tournament Web site, www.mauiinvitational.com. Travel packages with game tickets and hotel accommodations are currently available through Oahu Travel, the Tournament's official travel agency, by calling 800.826.3822. For complete Tournament information, visit the official Tournament Web site at www.mauiinvitational.com or to inquire about travel packages contact Oahu Travel, the official travel agent of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, at 800.826.3822.