Maui Invitational 2013: Preview and Predictions for Championship Game

The Baylor Bears will be taking on the Syracuse Orange this Wednesday in the 2013 Maui Invitational championship game, and it's bound to be a very exciting game.

Both teams currently sit at 6-0 and are in the AP Top 25.  While the Orange have a powerhouse of a program that has been one of the best in the country for quite some time, the Bears are trying to recreate their success from the 2011-12 season and bring consistent success to the program. 

Below is a look at both teams and a prediction for their top player in the championship game, followed by a final prediction for the game itself.

No. 18 Baylor Bears (6-0)

It's certainly been a great start for the Bears this season, but there have certainly been some close calls.  Three games have been decided by five points or fewer, including this past game against Dayton, where they won 67-66 thanks to a late surge in the second half.

While the Bears don't have the most efficient offense, they've thrived so far on strong defense.  They rank 15th in the country with opponents shooting just 35.2 percent against them, and third in the country holding opponents to just 35.1 percent in two-point field goal attempts.

The offensive attack is rather spread out for the Bears, with four players scoring at least 10 points per game.  Their leading scorer is Brady Heslip, who is scoring 14.8 points per game and shooting 50 percent from behind the arc.  

Baylor's Top Player: Isaiah Austin

While Heslip leads the team in scoring, Isaiah Austin is arguably their best player, and he should continue that success in this game.

Listed at 7'1'' and 225 pounds, Austin is certainly an intimidating player at center.  He's a monster under the basket, putting up 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45 percent from the floor.

Considering Syracuse has no player over 6'10'', Austin will certainly have a height advantage in this game, and that should give him plenty of opportunities to make plays on both sides of the ball and potentially shift the momentum of the game.

No. 8 Syracuse Orange (6-0)

After going to the Final Four last season, the Orange are hoping to make an even deeper run in this year's tournament.

First, they're going to have to get through Baylor, and they match up quite well against them.  They have an incredibly talented frontcourt that can keep up with anyone in the country, and their team's success goes through those players.

The Orange have yet to have a true scare this season, but they have had rather close games against St. Francis and Minnesota.  However, they are also coming off of a strong 92-81 win over California, where the team shot 53.4 percent from the field while making 23 of 24 free throws.

Syracuse's Top Player: C.J. Fair

When it comes to the Orange, there isn't a better player on the team than C.J. Fair.

It's already been a great season for Fair.  He's currently averaging 17.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, making plays on both sides of the ball.

Fair is capable of making plays in big games.  When playing against Top 25 teams last season, he averaged 14.5 points per game.  In the NCAA tournament, he averaged 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 54.7 percent form the field.

Look for Fair to take over in this one, as he's used to playing in big games.

Final Prediction

Both of these teams have potential, but the Orange have a more talented starting five.

Fair certainly proved himself last season, while Jerami Grant is an emerging talent.  Trevor Cooney and Tyler Ennis have been solid as well, and this group will continue to improve as the season progresses.

This is Baylor's first big test this season, and considering how much they struggled against Dayton, I trust the Orange more to pull out to win in this Top 25 matchup.

Prediction: Syracuse 79, Baylor 70