Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

UNLV to play rerouted Maui Invitational in Asheville, N.C.

Rebels beat Hawaii

Marco Garcia / Associated Press

UNLV forward Cheikh Mbacke Diong (34) tries to shoot over Hawaii center Dawson Carper (44) and guard Eddie Stansberry (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Honolulu.

When UNLV traveled to Hawaii for the Diamondhead Classic two years ago, the trip was all about tropical weather, leis and basketball.

When the team heads to the Maui Invitational this year, it will be about ...

Hmm. What is Asheville, North Carolina, famous for?

On Thursday the NCAA announced that the 2020-21 college basketball season will begin on Nov. 25, and one day later the Maui Invitational announced that it will move its event to Asheville this year to make the accommodations safer and more convenient for the eight participating teams.

The Maui/Asheville organizers included UNLV as part of the expected field, and on Friday coach T.J. Otzelberger confirmed his team will compete.

"We're playing," Otzelberger said. "We're just trying to figure out what's the best and safest way to get there, and then where we're staying and how we're getting back. Our staff is working to put it in place as we speak."

The Invitational will be held in a "bubble environment," according to the event's organizers, with the games set to take place at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2.

Players, coaches and traveling staff will undergo Covid-19 testing throughout the event.

In addition to UNLV, the field is still expected to include Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Providence, Texas, Stanford and Davidson.

With many college basketball teams scrambling to fill their nonconference schedules in the wake of the restart date announcement, Otzelberger is happy to have at least three games locked in with the Maui/Asheville trip.

"The multi-team events anchor your nonconference schedule, and we're fortunate to have quality teams in the field," Otzelberger said. "Even though it moves to Asheville, it gives us a chance to play some good teams on a neutral court, and those are the type of games that the NCAA Tournament committee values when you're trying to get an at-large bid. So those are important ones for us."