2018 Maui Invitational to Host 8 Division I Teams for 1st Time in History

The Maui Invitational is always among the premier early-season tournaments in college basketball, but the 2018 version might be the best one yet.

According to the event's official site, there will be eight Division I teams competing in the prestigious tournament for the first time ever. Division II Chaminade, which has been the host and played every year since the event's inception in 1984, will play on the mainland during the opening rounds.

Arizona, Auburn, Duke, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa State, San Diego State and Xavier will be the eight teams competing November 19-21, 2018.

The group features teams that have been among the best in college basketball over the past few seasons, with four of them sitting in the Top 15 in the preseason coaches poll, including No. 1-ranked Duke, per USA Today.

The squads also have a lot of history in the Maui Invitational over the last decade. Arizona won the tournament in 2014, while Illinois (2012), Gonzaga (2009) and Duke (2007, 2011) have also taken home the title within the last 10 years. The Blue Devils have won the event five times since 1992 under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Meanwhile, Iowa State, San Diego State and Xavier have had a lot of success during the regular season and postseason over the past few years and will likely bring a lot of talent to Hawaii.

As for Chaminade, the host school will still get a chance to compete for the championship in odd-numbered years, but the field will be exclusively Division I in even-numbered years.