Auburn’s Maui Invitational Journey: A Crucial Step Towards March Madness
Auburn’s basketball team is gearing up for a critical challenge at the 2024 Maui Invitational, where the Tigers will face three top-tier opponents in just three days. For a program aiming for a national title, the tournament could serve as a crucial measuring stick—both for the team’s development and its potential NCAA Tournament aspirations come March.
Auburn’s journey to Maui begins early this year. While the Tigers’ first game doesn’t tip off until Monday, the team is arriving several days ahead of schedule to acclimate to the time difference, prepare for their opening matchup with Iowa State, and take advantage of the team-building opportunities that come with being in paradise. For players like Chad Baker-Mazara, the trip to Maui is a dream come true—a blend of basketball at the highest level and the opportunity to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime destination.
“I’ve wanted to go to Maui my whole life,” said Baker-Mazara. “I never thought it would be in a setting where my two worlds collide—getting to play high-level basketball in a place like this. It feels like a kid getting candy.”
The Maui Invitational is renowned for its prestigious field, and Auburn’s schedule will be no different this year. The Tigers will open against Iowa State, a team that will likely be ranked in the top 25. After that, Auburn will face either North Carolina, a perennial powerhouse, or Dayton, an upset-minded mid-major squad. The rest of the field includes high-quality teams like UConn, Memphis, Michigan State, and Colorado—all teams capable of making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.
For Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, the tournament presents a chance to test his team’s mettle against some of the best in the country. “This is a great opportunity to play three really tough teams on a neutral court,” Pearl said. “It’ll help us find out where we stand and could potentially strengthen our NCAA Tournament resume if we can be competitive.”
The tournament is particularly important for Auburn’s postseason prospects. While winning the Maui Invitational would be a monumental achievement, simply performing well in such a high-stakes, fast-paced environment will provide invaluable experience for March. Pearl has emphasized the importance of focusing on one game at a time, noting that a successful trip would be defined by playing high-quality basketball and staying competitive throughout the week.
Auburn’s last trip to Maui was in 2019, a season in which the Tigers reached the Final Four. That experience, which included a win over Xavier and a close loss to Duke, helped prepare the team for the grueling challenges of March. This year’s field is arguably tougher, but the Tigers are embracing the challenge.
“I came to Auburn to play at this level,” said point guard JP Pegues. “I want to be tested every night, and this is the kind of competition that will help us grow.”
The three-game sprint in Maui will be a perfect dress rehearsal for the kinds of back-to-back-to-back challenges Auburn could face later in the season—whether in the SEC Tournament or the NCAA Tournament. “We’re treating this like it’s a mini-tournament,” Baker-Mazara said. “It’s all about getting our bodies ready for what’s to come. The goal is to be No. 1, and this is one step in getting there.”
As Auburn heads to Maui, the team is looking forward to the challenge ahead. It’s not just about the games themselves, but about testing themselves against some of the nation’s best. If they perform well, the Tigers could walk away from Maui with more than just a few wins—they could set the tone for a successful March Madness run.
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