The Maui Invitational

In the fifties, Bing Crosby’s Mele Kalikimaka invited us to Hawaii for a Merry Christmas, but Thanksgiving on Maui is nothing to sneeze at either, especially for college hoops fans.

The Maui Invitational is played every year over Thanksgiving weekend, and the event makes for a great tip for players, coaches, families and fans alike.

The event’s roots date back to a 1982 upset that took place between Chaminade University of Honolulu, the Invitational’s annual host and participant, the #1 seeded University of Virginia – often called the greatest upset in college basketball history.

After EA Sports and ESPN caught wind of the potential, the Maui Invitational was put into the annual rotation, and has become one of the best early-season tournaments for college b-ball fans.

The event brings seven teams in to compete – who are joined by host Chaminade – and swarms of spectators, crew, media, and sponsors into town.

What a great way to kick off the holiday season.