Louisville Will Face Arkansas in Maui Jim Maui Invitational First Round

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville men's basketball team will face Arkansas in the first round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Monday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. ET (noon Hawaiian Time) at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii in the second game of the tournament and will be televised by ESPN2.

The eight-team, three-day event will also feature Texas Tech against Creighton at 2:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. Hawaiian Time) on Nov. 21 in Game 1, Ohio State against San Diego State at 9 p.m. ET (4 p.m. HT) in Game 3, and Cincinnati against Arizona at 11:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. HT) in Game 4.

The winners from the Louisville-Arkansas matchup will face the winner of the Texas Tech-Creighton contest on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET (3 p.m. Hawaiian Time), while the losers of those two games will play at 2:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. Hawaiian Time). The Cardinals' opponents and game time for Nov. 23 will be determined by their advancement. All 12 games of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, and also available on the ESPN App.

Travel packages to join the Cardinals are available at GoCards.com/Maui.

Louisville has a 4-3 advantage in all-time games against Arkansas, which posted a 28-9 record last season and reached the NCAA Elite Eight. The Cardinals have won four of the last five meetings, including a season-opening 96-66 victory over the Razorbacks in the last meeting in the 2009 Hall of Fame Showcase in St. Louis, Mo. (Nov. 17, 2009).

The first four meetings between the two schools came in NCAA Tournament competition. Arkansas guard U.S. Reed buried a half-court shot to provide the winning margin as the No. 20 Razorbacks knocked the Cardinals out of the 1981 NCAA Midwest Region second round 74-73 (3/14/81). In another tight NCAA finish, U of L forward Scooter McCray tipped in a shot at the buzzer as UofL beat No. 9 Arkansas 65-63 in the 1983 NCAA Mideast Region semifinals (3/24/83).

It will be the Cardinals' fourth appearance in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and first in 18 years. In its last time as a participant in 2004, UofL lost to Iowa before beating host Chaminade and Stanford. Louisville was also a participant in 1989 and 2000.

Six of this year's eight programs participated in the 2021-22 NCAA tournament, with Texas Tech and Arizona advancing to the Sweet 16 and Arkansas reaching the Elite Eight. Louisville (39), Arkansas (34), Ohio State (31), and Creighton (23) are in the top 50 nationally for most NCAA Tournament appearances, while Arizona and Cincinnati are also two of the top 12 all-time winningest schools in NCAA victories. Additionally, San Diego State is coming off back-to-back NCAA March Madness selections.

This year's field also features six teams that will be making a return appearance in Maui while Creighton and Texas Tech will be making their first-ever appearance. Arizona is the only returning program to have earned a Maui Jim Maui Invitational Championship Title, having done so in 2000 and 2014.

Matchup History
Texas Tech vs. Creighton
Series record: Creighton leads 3-1
Last matchup: Nov. 29, 2019 (Creighton 83, Texas Tech 76)
Notes: Both Texas Tech and Creighton will be making their inaugural appearance at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational in 2022.

Louisville vs. Arkansas
Series Record: Louisville leads 4-3
Last Matchup: Nov. 17, 2009 (Louisville 96, Arkansas 66)
Notes: Louisville will be making its fourth appearance at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational following the 1989, 2000 and 2004 Tournaments. The Cardinals rank in the top 10 nationally for all-time NCAA Tournament wins holding 61 victories. This year will be Arkansas' fourth appearance in the Tournament following the 1991, 2005, 2013 Tournaments. The Hogs have earned 33 NCAA Tournament berths, have advanced to the Elite Eight in back-to-back years, while also owning the 1994 NCAA Championship Title.

San Diego State vs. Ohio State
Series record: San Diego State leads 2-1
Last matchup: Nov 11, 2003 (San Diego State 83, Ohio State 61)
Notes: San Diego State will make its fifth appearance at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational following participation in the 1989, 2003, 2014 and 2018 Tournaments. Ohio State is returning to the Tournament for its fourth appearance, its first since 2003. The Buckeyes also participated in the 1993 and 1988 Tournaments.

Arizona vs. Cincinnati
Series Record: Arizona leads 2-0
Last Matchup: Feb. 11, 1996 (Arizona 79, Cincinnati 76)
Notes: The 2022 Tournament will be the Wildcats' eighth trip to Maui following their appearances in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2014 and 2018. Arizona holds a 14-8 record at the Tournament, including Championship Titles in 2000 and 2014. Cincinnati is making its second appearance, having previously appeared in 2009.

For more information or to purchase tickets for this year's tournament, visit mauiinvitational.com or follow us on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).

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About the Maui Jim Maui Invitational
In December 1982, then No. 1 ranked Virginia, led by National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, played little-known NAIA Chaminade University in Honolulu while on the way back from a trip to Tokyo. The Silverswords stunned Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984, Chaminade University hosted the first Maui Jim Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 35 years running. Each year, the Maui Jim Maui Invitational attracts the top programs, best-known coaches and most outstanding players to compete in an exciting atmosphere at the Lahaina Civic Center near the beautiful beaches of Maui.

About Maui Jim Sunglasses
Maui Jim sunglasses were born on the beaches of Maui; designed to protect eyes from the harsh rays of the island sun. Today, Maui Jim is the world's fastest-growing premium eyewear company and is sold in more than 100 countries. Maui Jim is recognized for its unparalleled "Aloha Spirit", customer service, and advanced, patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology. All Maui Jim sunglasses block 100 percent of harmful UV rays and eliminate reflected glare, while enhancing color, clarity and detail. Maui Jim sunglasses have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as an effective UV filter for the eyes and surrounding skin.

In 2018, Maui Jim expanded further into the eyewear space, offering eyeglasses structurally and stylistically engineered to balance aesthetics with fit and integrity. Maui Jim offers two proprietary clear lenses: Maui Blue Light Protect™, to shield eyes from bothersome blue light from digital screens, and Maui High Contrast™, which offers better resolution and crisper details. Frames for both sunglasses and eyeglasses utilize the highest-quality materials such as durable titanium, lightweight nylon, and richly-colored acetate, all manufactured in Italy or Japan. For more information, visit MauiJim.com or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @OfficialMauiJim.

About Tournament Sponsors
Other sponsors include the Continental Tire, County of Maui, Hawaiian Springs, HMSA, and Tommy Bahama. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and Westin Maui Resort & Spa, all located in the beautiful Ka'anapali Beach Resort area, serve as host hotels.

About Chaminade University
Chaminade University of Honolulu believes in the power of education to drive positive change, broaden perspectives, and deepen our understanding of one another. With an emphasis on transformative service-learning experiences, we prepare students to serve as tomorrow's leaders, inspiring and challenging them to use their minds and their hearts to help build stronger and more just communities. We are proud to serve as Hawai'i's only Marianist university and rely on these values to guide us in delivering a high-quality education with an individualized approach and a focus on excellence, innovation, and change. Established in 1955, we offer more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctoral degrees in education, psychology, and nursing practice. Learn more at chaminade.edu.

About KemperLesnik
KemperLesnik is a sports marketing, events and public relations agency. Ranked by Crain's Chicago Business among Chicago's top PR agencies, KemperLesnik produces integrated communications programs and manages major national events, including the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the Asheville Championship, the McDonald's All American Games, the POWERADE Jam Fest and brand activation for the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. KemperLesnik has operated the Maui Jim Maui Invitational since 1990. For more information, visit www.kemperlesnik.com.

University of Louisville Athletics

Louisville Will Face Arkansas in Maui Jim Maui Invitational First Round

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