Auburn received an invite to the 2018 Maui Jim Maui Invitational Tournament. The Tournament will be played in Hawai'i on November 19-21, 2018.
This is a huge step forward for the Tigers who will join perennial powerhouses Arizona, Duke, Xavier, Gonzaga, Illinois, and others on the islands. The programs invited to Maui are expected to be NCAA Tournament and national championship contenders. Bruce Pearl said that the tournament was reserved for truly elite programs and that's where we're headed.
The programs are also expected to bring a large and rabid fanbase with them so start packing now! No one is more excited about the trip than Rod Bramblett.
Well...darn...I guess I could squeeze this trip in before the Iron Bowl in 2018! #WarEagle https://t.co/VGNoxaNsr5
— Rod Bramblett (@VoiceofAUTigers) October 26, 2016
While Auburn hasn't had the on-the-court success most fans hoped for when Pearl was hired, Pearl and the staff continue building the foundations of a solid program. Auburn is routinely signing four and five star talent. Each class brings another recruit who ranks as the top recruit ever to land at Auburn. Eventually, things will turn around on the Plains.
Barring something unusual, the 2018-19 Tigers will arrive on the island led by five-star freshman, Austin Wiley.
While the Maui Tournament is known for its top tier teams, it was also the home of one of the greatest upsets in sports. In 1981, NAIA Chaminade defeated #1 Virginia, led by legendary center Ralph Sampson. Here's hoping Auburn can announce its presence on the national stage by knocking off college basketball royalty next November.