The Maui Jim Maui Invitational preseason men's college basketball tournament may have been played on the Mainland the past two years due to the pandemic, but the island still boasts many connections to this weekend's NCAA Final Four in New Orleans.
All four head coaches have history on Maui. None more than Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, a legendary figure in the sport who is set to retire after leading the Blue Devils since 1980. Krzyzewski coached Duke to a tournament record five Maui Invitational titles in Lahaina Civic Center and is looking for his fifth NCAA crown.
With berths in Monday's NCAA Final on the line, Duke meets longtime rival North Carolina in one Saturday semifinal, and Kansas plays Villanova in the other. North Carolina has claimed four Maui Invitational titles for second most in tournament history. Kansas is third with three. Villanova clinched its only Maui crown with a 77-75 win over North Carolina in 1995.
Compared to the Caesars Superdome, which is expected to draw 74,000 people for the games in New Orleans, there are no nosebleed seats in Lahaina Civic Center. It has always been a little hard to believe the 2,400-seat capacity gym could draw such powerhouses year after year.
Securing tickets for premier games has gotten more difficult and expensive, but the Maui Invitational gives island fans, volunteers and media an unparalleled opportunity to witness the game's legends and up-and-coming stars in action.
Perhaps the biggest presence to stalk the Lahaina Civic Center hardwood has been Krzyzewski. Duke was coming off two straight national titles when his team made its first appearance on Maui in 1992. Krzyzewski coached the Blue Devils to the tourney crown that year and also in 1997, 2001, 2007 and 2011. To secure the 2011 crown, Duke beat Kansas and head coach Bill Self, 68-61. Krzyzewski's only Maui loss came against Gonzaga in the 2018 championship thriller, 89-87.
On TV, with his combed hair, sweaters and ties, it would be easy to mistake Krzyzewski for some kind of milquetoast puritan. The close confines of Lahaina Civic Center put those notions to rest. Krzyzewski played guard for Army, but as a coach, he could swear like a sailor when calls did not go his team's way. Players and others who did not follow the game plan could also suffer the lash of the prickly coach's tongue.
Though Krzyzewski came to embrace the "one and done" reality of modern college basketball recruiting, his program was built on nurturing student athletes and promoting a commitment to finish college. His teams may not have had the best athletes, but his players were experienced and well coached.
This weekend, we'll see if Coach K goes out with a Hollywood-style finish. In seven months, we'll see if the Maui Jim Maui Invitational returns to Lahaina Civic Center after a two-year break.
