Arizona Basketball draws Cincinnati in first round of Maui Invitational
The 2022-23 Arizona Basketball is quickly approaching and the Maui Invitational has been announced as the Wildcats will open against Cincinnati.
Arizona Basketball is returning to Hawaii! In what will be their first trip back to the Islands since the 2018-19 season, the Wildcats will take part in the infamous Maui Invitational Tournament.
The official bracket was released on Monday morning, and as we all found out, the Wildcats will open up their tournament action against Cincinnati. With tip-off set for 9:30 p.m. Arizona time, the game will take place on Nov. 21 at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui.
Cincinnati is coming off a season in which they finished 18-15 under first-year coach Wes Miller; however, the Bearcats return several key players from last season and should be a worthy foe to the Cats.
Should Arizona win that game, they would then face the winner of San Diego State and Ohio State.
Making their eighth appearance at the Maui Invitational, Arizona Basketball will look to start its season on a strong note.
The Wildcats last played in the Maui Invitational in 2018 where they beat Iowa State in its first game of the tournament. But unfortunately, things got derailed from there as the Wildcats then lost to Gonzaga and Auburn in back-to-back games.
Returning to take on Cincinnati to begin the tournament, the Wildcats and Bearcats share a bit of a unique history. Both teams have met three times over the years, with Arizona currently holding a 3-0 advantage over Cincinnati.
The Wildcat’s last win came during the 1995-96 season when Miles Simon banked in a buzzer-beating shot from roughly 65 feet away to deliver the 76-73 win.
The Wildcats sport a 14-8 record at the Maui Invitational, and their 14 victories are currently tied for third-most.
This year’s tournament will provide a great test to the Wildcats as Arizona looks to build off the immense success that Tommy Lloyd saw in year one.
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