EA Sports Maui Invitational: 10 Must-Watch Players from the Preseason Tournament

Consistently among the best of the preseason showcases, the Maui Invitational gives college hoops fans a season-opening look at some of the most talented players and teams in the country. This year’s edition features an expanded field of 12 teams, meaning even more stars on display.

One of the most anticipated debuts at the tournament will be the first look for a national TV audience at Duke freshman Austin Rivers. The heir apparent to NBA No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving will get a chance to show off the talent that’s fueled his prodigious buzz.

Herein, a further look at Rivers and nine more of the most exciting players featured in the Maui Invitational field.

10. Trae Golden, Tennessee

With just one starter returning from last year’s Vols, there are plenty of opportunities for new faces to step up under new coach Cuonzo Martin.

Martin’s guard-heavy roster will be keeping the pressure high, and sophomore PG Trae Golden appears to be one early beneficiary.

Golden lit up UNC Greensboro in the season opener for 29 points and nine assists. He’s not going to shoot 5-for-9 from three-point range every night, but don’t be surprised to see him make a few highlight-reel plays against Duke on Monday night.

9. Mick Hedgepeth, Belmont

The Belmont Bruins are never going to be on the national radar at this time of year, but just ask Mike Krzyzewski how good this team is. Belmont came within a basket of knocking off his Blue Devils on Friday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Center Mick Hedgepeth, the leader of a battle-tested lineup that finished 30-5 last year, averaged 10.8 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds a game last season.

The 6’9” senior held his own against the vaunted Duke front line, and will pose a stiff challenge for Memphis' forwards in this afternoon’s matchup.

8. Hollis Thompson, Georgetown

Interior scoring was very much an afterthought on last season’s guard-heavy Hoyas, but Georgetown will be a very different team with Chris Wright and Austin Freeman gone.

The frontcourt will be in the spotlight, and forward Hollis Thompson will be the core of that group.

Now a junior, Thompson averaged 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game (second on the team) in 2010-11. He’s not a bruiser at 6’8”, 205 lbs, but he knows how to make plays in the paint on either end of the floor.

7. Reeves Nelson, UCLA

By no means the biggest member of a gargantuan UCLA frontcourt, 6'8" Reeves Nelson is at least the most accomplished. Nelson averaged 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds a game for the Bruins in 2010-11.

The junior couldn’t prevent UCLA from becoming one of the season’s first major upset victims, though he did post 13 points and eight rebounds in the loss to Loyola Marymount.

Expect a stronger performance from both Nelson and his team in tonight’s meeting with Middle Tennessee.

UPDATE: According to ESPN, Nelson has been suspended indefinitely by coach Ben Howland for "conduct unbecoming a member of the UCLA basketball team."

6. Mason Plumlee, Duke

While the new-look backcourt gets more press, the key to Duke’s chances this season lies with the big men up front. Mason Plumlee, the middle of three brothers on the Blue Devil roster, is the most accomplished and most important to his team’s ambitions.

The 6’10” Plumlee, now a junior, averaged 7.2 points and 8.4 rebounds a game last season while deferring to established scoring stars like Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler.

He’ll need to provide a lot more of an offensive presence this year (13 points per game on the young 2011-12 season) for Duke to compete with the nation’s best.

5. Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan

The son of a former NBA All-Star, Tim Hardaway, Jr. has a game to go with his name. The 6’5” guard averaged 13.9 points and 3.8 rebounds a game as a freshman in 2010-11.

With Darius Morris gone, Hardaway becomes the main man in the Wolverines backcourt. He’ll face a serious test early on when Michigan takes on guard-rich Memphis on Monday night.

4. Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

The most experienced member of a green Jayhawks team, Tyshawn Taylor is also one of its top talents. The 6’3” senior averaged 9.3 points and a team-leading 4.6 assists a game last season.

Taylor will need to look for his own shots a good deal more this season, and has the offensive repertoire to be a top-notch scoring point guard. Look for a big game from Taylor against some inexperienced Georgetown guards in next Monday’s meeting.

3. Will Barton, Memphis

The athletic Tigers are going to be one of the most exciting teams in the country this season, and no player exemplifies their high-energy style better than Will Barton. The 6’6” sophomore averaged 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds a night in 2010-11.

Barton, who also keyed Memphis' attacking defense with 1.5 steals a game, is just one of last season's standout freshmen who will be a great deal more dangerous with a year of college experience.

Look for the No. 9 Tigers to live up to their preseason billing with Barton leading the way.

2. Austin Rivers, Duke

The most-hyped freshman in the country, Austin Rivers will get a chance to show what he’s made of on a national stage in Maui. The son of Celtics coach Doc, Rivers is a 6’4” combo guard who will be one of the best offensive weapons in Duke’s arsenal.

Rivers’ ball-handling will be put to the test early by the pressing defense of the Tennessee Volunteers on Monday night. He’ll have a few freshman moments in this matchup, but expect Rivers to justify his preseason reputation by the time March rolls around.

1. Thomas Robinson, Kansas

One of the nation’s best sixth men a season ago, Thomas Robinson averaged 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds a game despite being stuck behind the Morris twins in the Jayhawk frontcourt.

The 6’9” junior becomes the main attraction this year, and his talent is decidedly up to the task.

Robinson debuted as a starter with 18 points and 11 boards in a home romp over Towson State. Look for him to shine, even against a physical Big East frontcourt, when the Jayhawks square off with Georgetown in the late game next Monday night.