LAHAINA, Hawaii -- The EA Sports Maui Invitational is the premier pre-conference tournament. The teams that play in this tournament get to play three quality games in three days, and they have the opportunity to simulate a postseason conference tournament. It provides each team with an opportunity to win a championship. It is also a great setting, and I am talking about indoors.
The Lahaina Civic Center is a great place to watch a game, and is a great atmosphere for college basketball. It is like a big high school gym with a great shooting background, with big time college basketball. For coaches, players, NBA personnel and guys like me, it is a great opportunity. Coaches get to see how their teams respond early to good competition and identify strengths and weaknesses; players get tested and get to really compete; and NBA personnel and guys like me get to evaluate some really good players and teams in one place.
Oh yeah, and it's 84 degrees and sunny outside.