For an overview of all of the participants in the 2010 Maui Invitational, visit our feature previewing the tournament.
For some insight into what other SBN bloggers are saying about their teams, check out the following organized by today's schedule (all times PST):
Noon: Wichita State vs. UConn (ESPN2)
TheRoundUp 11/22: Aloha from Maui, Aloha Enosch Wolf? - The UConn Blog
Indeed, this trip is more business than pleasure for the Huskies, who open college basketball's elite early-season tournament Monday against Wichita State. With expectations low and the potential of key players unknown even to coaches at this point, UConn (2-0) will soon have an important body of work to draw on — three games in three days, a needed test of ability and character for a team with six freshmen.
2:30 p.m.: Oklahoma vs. Kentucky (ESPN2)
Hawaii 5 0: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kentucky Wildcats - Big 12 Hoops
If the Sooners want a chance to make this a game, I think running down Kentucky's starters (or getting them into foul trouble will be key). Unfortunately, Oklahoma isn't big enough (they only have one player over 6'8, and he's only averaging two minutes a game) to force the Wildcats to play a larger, less talented lineup. I don't think there's any way Oklahoma can score with Kentucky in a up-and-down game, so limiting possessions will be key.
CoachCal.com | Ken’s Cats Corner: Oklahoma Preview
Coach Capel is most decidedly in rebuilding mode this season, but he has added some productive pieces to the puzzle. And with OU’s bulky, athletic frontcourt, UK will be tested in an area concern for coach John Calipari (as well as Kentucky fans). How UK fares against the Oklahoma forwards might very well portend how successful UK navigates its early season schedule.
6:30 p.m.: Michigan State vs. Chaminade (ESPNU)
Aloha Means Hello AND Goodbye, So "Aloha!"*: Maui Invitational Tournament Preview - The Only Colors
MSU (#2 in the nation) enters as the nominal favorite to win the invitational over #12 Kentucky and #17 Washington. Those other two ranked teams each bring one component of the two-part formula that has MSU sitting so high in the rankings, though. Kentucky can match MSU in terms of pure talent, with a very highly-touted freshman class replacing the very highly-touted freshman class of last year that now mostly plays in the NBA. Enes Kanter turned out not to be so much an amateur, but Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones (both at 18+ points/game through two games) are plenty good enough to build a national contender around. Washington, meanwhile, has the same kind of player experience levels and depth as MSU, returning about three-quarters of its player minutes from last year's Pac-Ten Tournament Champion and Sweet Sixteen squad and playing 10 guys 14+ minutes/game through its first two (breakneck-paced) games this season.
9:00 p.m.: Virginia vs. Washington (ESPN2)
2010 Maui Invitational Preview: John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats Among Stacked Tournament Field - SBNation.com
Bennett will rely heavily on senior forward Mike Scott, who is the team's leading returning scorer. Scott is currently averaging 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this year. He also managed to win the players' party video game competition Saturday night, where a representative from each team participates in a tournament on EA Sports' college basketball game. Scott beat UConn's Kemba Walker to take home the title.