General 9/19/2016 11:38:00 AM

From Maui to Rocky Top: Tennessee Receives 2016 Surfboard

Last Saturday, Coach Rick Barnes and the Tennessee men's basketball team was presented with its Maui Jim Maui Invitational Tournament surfboard in front of more than 100,000 fans at the Volunteer football game. The cheer squad and mascot, Smokey, also took part in the presentation.

The presentation, which occurred on the field following the first quarter, was also televised during the SEC Network broadcast of the game. This was the second surfboard presentation of the fall season; Wisconsin was presented with its Tournament surfboard on Sept. 10 during their home football opener.

About Tennessee and the Maui Jim Maui Invitational: Tennessee will make its third appearance in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational this November, having previously appeared in Maui in 2004 and 2011. The Volunteers hold a 3-4 all-time record in the Tournament.

2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational Field: The 2016 field, which includes Georgetown, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Tennessee, UConn, Wisconsin and host Chaminade, features traditional powers and perennial championship contenders. Since 1999, the teams have combined for 15 trips to the Final Four and have won six national championships. In all, the field has combined to win 14 national titles, make 40 trips to the Final Four and earn 198 NCAA Tournament berths. Four teams appear in ESPN's early top 25, including three teams – North Carolina, Oregon and Wisconsin, in the top 10. The Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be held Nov. 21-23, with all 12 games televised on ESPN Networks. The Volunteers open the Tournament against the Badgers at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Travel and Ticket Package Information: Travel and ticket packages to the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational are still available for Tennessee fans. Visit www.mauiinvitational.com for more information.

Digital Media: Follow the Tournament online at www.mauiinvitational.com or via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @MauiInv, and with the hashtag #MauiHoops.

About the Maui Jim Maui Invitational
In December 1982, then No. 1 ranked Virginia, led by National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, played little-known NAIA Chaminade University in Honolulu while on the way back from a trip to Tokyo. The Silverswords stunned Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984, Chaminade University hosted the first Maui Jim Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 32 years running. Each year, the Maui Jim Maui Invitational attracts the top programs, best-known coaches and most outstanding players to compete in an exciting atmosphere at the Lahaina Civic Center near the beautiful beaches of Maui.

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