MAUI, Hawaii -- The Maui Invitational announced today the 2024 field for the 41st annual Tournament. Auburn, Colorado, Dayton, Iowa State, Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina and the 2023 NCAA National Champions UCONN will go head-to-head Nov. 25-27, 2024 at the historic Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii.
Teams that have participated in the Maui Invitational throughout the event's history own 72 of the 83 NCAA Championships, and seven of those schools have gone on to win the National Championship after competing in Maui earlier in the season.
"There is simply no other early-season college basketball tournament that rivals the spirit, talent and overall 'magic' of the Maui Invitational," said Tournament Chairman, Dave Odom. "The 2024 field is not only going to bring top tier programs representing eight of the most dominant conferences in the sport, but also fans from all corners of the country. Whether it's your first time on-island, or you've made packing into the historic Lahaina Civic Center an annual tradition, this Tournament experience is on every college basketball fan's bucket list - and this loaded 2024 field is going to make it hard to resist."
The 2024 teams bolster a total of 218 NCAA Tournament appearances, 45 Final Four berths (including 2023 National Champion UCONN) and 13 NCAA Tournament titles. Half of the teams competing rank within the top-40 of the winningest programs of all-time in men's college basketball.
UCONN has won the NCAA Championship five times in the last 25 years, and also has won the Maui Title twice in that span. This year's National Championship game in Houston was a prime example of 'Maui Magic,' as San Diego State finished fourth in the 2022 Maui Invitational.
All eight teams have been to the Maui Invitational before at least once, with North Carolina holding the most previous trips at eight. Memphis will be making its sixth trip, first since 2011, while Dayton, Michigan State and UCONN will return for their fifth appearances.
Iowa State heads to the island for the third time (first since 2018) and Auburn (2018) and Colorado (2009) are headed back for their second program appearances.
Additionally, half of the teams have previously won the Maui Invitational: North Carolina has won four times, UConn twice and Michigan State and Dayton each hold one coveted title apiece.
"The goal of the Maui Invitational is and always has been to bring together the top programs in college basketball in one of the most stunning places in the country. The 2024 field will accomplish that and more," said Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperLesnik, the operator of the Maui Invitational. "The field includes a variety of iconic programs and coaches, as well as respected up-and-comers. We are confident when we say that the Maui Invitational does not disappoint, and we think fans back home and on-island will be in for an epic few days of college basketball with this stacked field."
All-Tournament travel packages and school Booster travel packages for the 2024 Maui Invitational will be available at a later date. For more information on the Tournament, please visit mauiinvitational.com.
About the 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 top-ranked Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984, Chaminade University hosted the first Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 36 years running. Each year, the 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 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 Invitational, 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 Invitational since 1990. For more information, visit www.kemperlesnik.com.
