Memphis draws National Champion UCONN in Maui Invitational

Memphis Draws Defending National Champion UConn in Maui Invitational Opener

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The bracket is set for the 2024 Maui Invitational and the Memphis Tigers will face 2-time defending national champion UConn in the opening round on Monday, Nov. 25, tipping off at 1:30 p.m. CT (9:30 a.m. HT) on ESPN2.

The contest will be the first game of the preeminent college basketball tournament in its return to the historic Lahaina Civic Center in Lahaina, Hawai’i.

The other matchup on Memphis’ side of the eight-team bracket features Michigan State vs. Colorado, while the other side pits Auburn vs. Iowa State and Dayton vs. North Carolina.

The semifinals will be played on Tuesday afternoon, with the championship game on Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The field is one of the most-stacked fields in the history of the invitational. Four teams are ranked in the top 11 of ESPN’s “Way Too Early Top 25”, featuring UConn (#3), Iowa State (#7), North Carolina (#10) and Auburn (#11).

Seven of the eight teams appeared in last year’s NCAA Tournament, with six advancing past the first day. Three of those teams (UConn, ISU, UNC) made their way to the Sweet 16 before the Huskies captured their second-consecutive national championship.

This marks Memphis’ sixth appearance in the Maui Invitational, but its first since 2011, which is second-most of the eight teams (UNC – 9). The Tigers won at least two games in three previous visits.

Although Memphis has never won the tournament, the Tigers have finished third place twice, including 1992 when a young Penny Hardaway was named Tournament Co-MVP alongside Duke's Bobby Hurley.

Hardaway will be just the second Maui Invitational MVP to later return as a head coach in the tournament with Kentucky’s Travis Ford being the other in 2016 with Oklahoma State.

It marks the first time Memphis and UConn will meet on the hardwood since Feb. 16, 2020 as American Athletic Conference foes. The all-time series with the Huskies is tied, 8-8, dating to 2007.

As in years past, the Maui Invitational and its partners will give two lucky college basketball fans the chance to experience ‘Maui Magic’ through the Maui Invitational Fan Sweepstakes.

One winner and a guest will receive two All-Tournament tickets to watch all 12 games, two Stadium Club hospitality passes, $150 tournament merchandise credit, a five-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 160,000 HawaiianMiles from Hawaiian Airlines, an exclusive experience at Maui Brewing Co., one $500 gift card from Tommy Bahama, and two $100 gift cards from JLab. The sweepstakes will run through September 9, 2024. To enter, or to view the complete list of rules and regulations, fans must visit mauiinvitational.com/sweepstakes.

Limited all-tournament and a variety of booster ticket-only packages will go on sale Friday, Aug. 23, and local fans will continue to receive their special Kama'āina ticket rate, which will go on sale on Thursday, Aug. 29. Each ticket option will be available online only starting at 10 a.m. Hawaiian time/3 p.m. Eastern time.