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2017 NCAA Tournament Graphic

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Nine 2016 & 2017 Maui Teams Earn NCAA Tournament Berths

Play ESPN's Tournament Challenge and you could win a trip to the 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational

MAUI, Hawaii – Nine teams participating in the 2016 or 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational earned NCAA Tournament berths, it was revealed by the NCAA Selection Committee on Sunday.
 
The champions in Maui last November, the North Carolina Tar Heels earned a No. 1 seed for the second straight year and 16th time in program history. It marks the 12th time a team that participated in Maui to start the year earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season. Each of North Carolina's last two NCAA championships (2005, 2009) came in years which the Tar Heels claimed the title in Maui to begin the season.
 
Also earning bids from the 2016 field were Oklahoma State, Oregon and Wisconsin, which each went 2-1 in Maui. It marks the seventh time in the last eight years four or more teams that participated in Maui in November earned NCAA Tournament berths later in the season.
 
The teams from the 2017 field are also highly regarded with five programs heading to NCAA Tournament play, including Marquette, Michigan, Notre Dame, VCU and Wichita State.
 
Continuing the Maui Jim Maui Invitational's tradition of featuring championship caliber teams, three squads from the 2016 and 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational fields secured their conference's respective regular-season titles, including North Carolina (ACC), Oregon (Pac-12) and Wichita State (Missouri Valley). The Shockers, along with fellow 2017 participant Michigan (Big Ten), claimed their conference tournament titles. In addition, four others advanced to their conference's tournament championship game, including Notre Dame (ACC), VCU (A-10), Oregon (Pac-12) and Wisconsin (Big Ten).
 
Since the inception of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, 122 teams that started the season on the island have earned berths in the NCAA Tournament. In each of the last six years, one or more Maui squads have advanced to at least the Elite Eight.
 
Through ESPN's Tournament Challenge, fans can fill out their brackets and have a chance to win a trip to the 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. Information and rules can be found on ESPN.com.
 
Details about the 2016 and 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational programs selected to the NCAA Tournament are listed below.
 
2016 Field
 
North Carolina Tar Heels (27-7 overall, 14-4 ACC)
  • No. 1 seed in the South Region and will face Texas Southern on Friday
  • Earned their 16th No. 1 seed in program history, the most in NCAA history
  • Will make their 48th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance
  • Secured their 31st ACC regular season championship, and second consecutive
  • Won their fourth Maui Jim Maui Invitational title last November
  • Each of its last two national championships (2005, 2009) came after going 3-0 in Maui earlier in the season
  • Will be making its 48th NCAA Tournament appearance, the second most in NCAA history
 
Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-12 overall, 9-9 Big 12)
  • No. 10 seed in the Midwest Region and will face 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational participant Michigan on Friday
  • Secured their 28th overall NCAA Tournament berth, and fourth in the last five season
  • Went 2-1 at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, securing a third-place finish
  • Jawun Evans, a first-team All-Big 12 performer, was named to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team
 
Oregon Ducks (29-5 overall, 16-2 Pac-12)
  • No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region and will face Iona on Friday
  • Makes their 15th NCAA Tournament appearance, and fifth consecutive under coach Dana Altman
  • Notched 20 or more wins in each of Altman's seven seasons with the Ducks, including three straight years with at least 25 victories
  • For the second straight year, won the Pac-12 regular season championship
  • Advanced to the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament
  • Went 2-1 at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational
 
Wisconsin Badgers (25-9 overall, 12-6 Big Ten)
  • No. 8 seed in the East Region and will face Virginia Tech on Thursday
  • Will make their 23rd all-time NCAA Tournament appearance
  • Has made 19 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, tied for the fifth-longest streak in NCAA history and fourth-longest active streak
  • Advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game
  • Went 2-1 in Maui this past year, finishing as runner-up
  • Ethan Happ, who was an All-Tournament Team performer in Maui, was named a first-team All-Big Ten performer
 
2017 Field
 
Marquette Golden Eagles (19-12 overall, 10-8 Big East)
  • No. 10 seed in the East Region and will face South Carolina on Friday
  • Will make their 32nd all-time NCAA Tournament appearance
  • Newcomer Markus Howard was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team and junior Andrew Rowsey earned the conference's Sixth Man Award
  • Head Coach Steve Wojciechowski played in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational with Duke in 1997
 
Michigan Wolverines (24-11 overall, 10-8 Big Ten)
  • No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region and will face 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational participant Oklahoma State on Friday
  • Will make their 23rd all-time NCAA Tournament appearance
  • Has won 20 or more games in seven of head coach John Beilein's 10 seasons with the Wolverines
  • Claimed their second Big Ten Tournament Championship, having last won the event in 1998
 
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (25-9 overall, 12-6 ACC)
  • No. 5 seed in the West Region and will face Princeton on Thursday
  • Will make their 36th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance
  • Advanced to the ACC Tournament championship game
  • Recorded 25 or more games four times in the last seven seasons
 
VCU Rams (26-8 overall, 14-4 A-10)
  • No. 10 seed in the West Region and will face Saint Mary's on Thursday
  • Will make their 16th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, and seventh straight to continue the longest consecutive streak in program history
  • Advanced to the A-10 Tournament championship game
  • Reached 25 or more victories in each of the last eight seasons
 
Wichita State (30-4 overall, 17-1 Missouri Valley)
  • No. 10 seed in the South Region and will face Dayton on Friday
  • Will make their 14th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, including each of the last six seasons under Gregg Marshall
  • Won the Missouri Valley regular season and tournament championships
  • Reached the 30-wins mark for the fourth time in the last five seasons
  • Tied for the third most wins (207) in the nation since the start of the 2010-11 season
 
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 33 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.
 
About Maui Jim Sunglasses
Maui Jim sunglasses were born on the beaches of Maui and designed to protect eyes from the harsh rays of the island sun. Today, Maui Jim is recognized for unparalleled "Aloha Spirit" and customer service as well as patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology, which blocks 100% of UV rays and eliminates glare while enhancing color, definition and depth perception.  Maui Jim sunglasses have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as an effective UV filter for the eyes and surrounding skin.  For more information, visit MauiJim.com or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @OfficialMauiJim.
 
About Tournament Sponsors
Other sponsors include the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, adidas, Continental Tire, GEICO and Odor-Eaters. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and Westin Maui Resort & Spa, all located in the beautiful Ka'anapali Beach Resort area, serve as host hotels.
 
About Chaminade University
Chaminade University is a private, Catholic university offering more than 25 undergraduate and graduate programs and is federally designated as a Native Hawaiian serving institution. Guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, Chaminade prepares students for careers in an evolving global marketplace rooted in the development of moral character, personal competencies and a commitment to build a just and peaceful society. Please visit chaminade.edu for more information.
 
About KemperLesnik
KemperLesnik is a sports marketing, events and public relations agency. Ranked by Crain's Chicago Business among Chicago's top PR agencies, KemperLesnik produces integrated communications programs and manages major national events, including the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the CBS SPORTS Classic, the McDonald's All American Games, the POWERADE Jam Fest and activation for KitchenAid and its PGA of America partnership. KemperLesnik has operated the Maui Jim Maui Invitational since 1990. For more information, visit www.kemperlesnik.com.
 
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