Maui Invitational past winners are Arizona Wildcats, Wisconsin Badgers, Texas Longhorns, Kansas Jayhawks, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and more.
The recent winner of the Maui Invitational is Arizona Wildcats. They won the competition last year in 2022 against Creighton Bluejays by an 81–79 score line in the finals.
Thanksgiving week typically sees the annual Maui Invitational, a collegiate basketball tournament that starts early, and the Maui Invitational location held in the Lahaina Civic Center in Lahaina, Hawaii.
The NCAA Division II University Chaminade University of Honolulu hosts it.
But this time for 2023, they have shifted from their original location Lahaina Civic Center to Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, O'ahu.
The Maui Classic will also be played in Stan Sheriff Center. They changed the location this time because of the wildfire that took place on Maui island recently.
To round out the field, 8 NCAA Division I men's basketball teams are invited to Maui. ESPN broadcasts the Maui Invitational, which has been held since 1984.
The competition was actually inspired by one of the most exquisite upsets in collegiate history. On December 23, 1982, the top-ranked and undefeated University of Virginia traveled to Honolulu for a contest.
Instead of playing the University of Hawaii, Virginia agreed to play Chaminade, which belonged to the NAIA at the time, on the trip.
1. Arizona Wildcats - 2022
The Arizona Wildcats represented the University of Arizona in the 2022/23 NCAA Division 1 men's basketball that season.
Tommy Lloyd, who was on his second stint with the team guided the Wildcats. It was their 44th season in the PAC 12 conference and 49th at the McKale Center on campus in Tucson, Arizona.
They were leveled in second place with a 28-7 overall record and a 14-6 record in Pac-12 play.
They won the Pac-12 Tournament after defeating Stanford, Arizona State, and UCLA. As the 11th No. 2 seed to lose to a No. 15 seed, they were stunned by Princeton in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament after receiving an automatic bid.
During Lloyd's first season, the Wildcats concluded 2021–22 with a 33–4 record. Arizona earned its 17th regular season championship with a record of 28–3, 18–2 in conference play at the end of the regular season.
2. Wisconsin Badgers - 2021
Wisconsin Badgers were the 2021/22 season Maui Invitational winners. They were guided by Greg Gard, who was their head coach and it was Gard's 7th season with the team.
Wisconsin Badgers concluded the season 25–8, and 15–5 in Big Ten play to achieve a share of the regular season championship.
As the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost to Michigan State in the last six.
As the No. 3 seed in the Midwest region, they won an at-large invite to the NCAA tournament, marking the school's 26th appearance in the tournament.
They defeated Colgate Raiders in the first round before being knocked out in the second round by No. 11 seed Iowa State.
3. Texas Longhorns - 2020
The 2020-21 Texas Longhorns basketball team which was coached by head coach Shaka Smart, won the Maui Invitational Championship in his sixth year as their head coach.
They finished the season 19–8, 11–6 in Big 12 play, finishing tied for third place.
As the Number 3 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, they advanced to the tournament's championship game by beating Texas Tech in the first round due to COVID-19 issues at the University of Kansas.
There they defeated Oklahoma State and won the Big 12 Tournament championship. As a result, they earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as the Number 3 seed in the East from their conference. They lost to Abilene Christian in the first round.
On March 26, 2021, their head coach Shaka Smart left the school to accept the head coaching position at Marquette.
Soon after, Texas Tech appointed coach Chris Beard as the team's new head coach.
4. Kansas Jayhawks - 2019
The 2019/20 Maui Invitational Champion Kansas Jayhawks was their 122nd basketball season when they won the title.
They played their home matches at Allen Field House in Lawrence, Kansas.
The legendary Bill Self was the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, and Self was in his 17th season leading the team.
One of the most legendary teams in the history of college basketball is the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team. They boast its six NCAA Tournament wins, the second-most in history, and his 16 Final Four appearances.
The Kansas Jayhawks are also the winningest team in NCAA history with 54 championships in the Big 8/Big 12 Conference.
Kansas ranks first all-time in NCAA Division I wins with 2,357 wins (including last season), compared to 877 losses (0.729 all-time, third all-time).
That record includes a mark of 765-110 (.874) at historic Allen Fieldhouse.
5. Gonzaga Bulldogs - 2018
The 2018/19 season Maui Invitational winner Gonzaga Bulldogs was managed by the head coach Mark Few, which was his 20th season in charge at that time.
They defeated Duke Blue Devils with a close score of 89-87 to clinch the title with the Japanese player Rui Hachimura named most valuable player in the final game.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team is an NCAA Division One powerhouse. Mark Few's team has routinely played well, frequently competing in the NCAA tournament.
They have established a reputation as a regular competitor, having reached the Final Four on many occasions.
The program has developed NBA-caliber talent, and its success has given the university national notice. The Kennel, the team's home court at the McCarthey Athletic Center, is noted for its fervent supporter following and is regarded as one of the most difficult settings for opposing teams.
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 2017
Notre Dame Fighting Irish was the Maui Invitational Champion in 2017. Mike Brey was the head coach who led them to the win in his 18th year on the team, against Wichita State with a score line of 67–66.
The men's basketball program at Notre Dame has a long history filled with remarkable accomplishments and experiences. Head Coaches such as Digger Phelps and Mike Brey have been very significant in creating the team's identity.
As one of the members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Fighting Irish face tough fights from some of the nation's top basketball programs on a regular basis.
The Fighting Irish have had national success, appearing in the NCAA Tournament on many occasions. The ability of the squad to play at a high level demonstrates its commitment to quality and competitiveness in the ever-changing world of collegiate basketball.
7. North Carolina Tar Heels - 2016
The North Carolina Tar Heels won the Maui Invitational in the 2016/17 season, demonstrating their basketball ability on the stunning Hawaiian courts against the Wisconsin Badgers with a score line of 71-56.
The Tar Heels, led by Roy Williams, navigated a competitive field, exhibiting a blend of skill, teamwork, and resilience that marked their championship run.
North Carolina, led by standout players such as Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson, displayed a strong combination of offensive firepower and defensive toughness.
The Maui Invitational triumph confirmed the team's national status and added another trophy to the Tar Heels' illustrious history.
North Carolina's win in the 2016 Maui Invitational not only added a major tournament trophy to its collection but also served as an inspiration for the team's great season.
8. Kansas Jayhawks - 2015
Kansas Jayhawks won the Maui Invitational in the 2015/16 season. It was under the Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self, that the Jayhawks negotiated a competitive field of teams in Hawaii's tropical climate.
Key players such as Perry Ellis and Frank Mason III delivered one of their best-ever performances throughout the tournament.
The Jayhawks' triumph in the Maui Invitational in 2015 is regarded as a turning point in the program's history. The Maui Invitational is played in the Lahaina Civic Center.
In Gwangju, South Korea, the Jayhawks represented the United States at the World University Games in 2015. The Jayhawks, along with Nic Moore of SMU and Julian DeBose of Florida Gulf Coast, won the Gold Medal with an 8-0 record.
9. Arizona Wildcats - 2014
Arizona Wildcats made the Maui Invitational tournament their own by winning it in the 2014/15 season.
They won it under the guidance of head coach Sean Miller, who was at that time in his sixth year as a head coach of the team.
Players like T. Mc Connell and Stanley Johnson played a key role in bringing the trophy to their home.
Arizona defeated San Diego St. in the final with a 61-59 score line. Stanley Johnson was adjudged Man of the Match in that game.
10. Syracuse Orange - 2013
Syracuse Orange won the Maui Invitational championship in the 2013/14 season against the Baylor Bears Basketball team with a scoreline of 74–67.
The Orange were under the leadership of head coach Jim Boeheim. C. J. Fair of Syracuse was awarded with the most valuable player of the final game.
The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York, hosted the team's home games.
Syracuse Orange switched from the Big East Conference (BEC) to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the first time that season. They finished second in the ACC with a record of 28-6 overall and 14-4 in conference play.
However, North Carolina State thrashed them in the ACC tournament last 8. They were granted an at-large ticket to the NCAA tournament, where they won against Western Michigan in the second round before falling to Dayton in the third round.
They went 25-0 to open the season before dropping 6 of their final 9 games.