ESPN announced today the pairings for the 2008 Maui Invitational. The Hoosiers will take on in-state school Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. The winner of the match-up will face the winner between St. Joes and Texas in the semi-finals.
Notre Dame is led by junior forward Luke Harangody, last year's Big East Player of the Year. The Schereville, IN native averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds a game last year for the Irish. Notre Dame is primed to have one of its best seasons in years after last season's second round appearance in the NCAA tournament.
The Hoosiers return just two players from last year's team. First year head coach Tom Crean is going to have to find an answer for Harangody for the Hoosiers to have a chance to advance to the semifinals. The tandem of senior Kyle Taber, junior college transfer Tijan Jobe and freshman Tom Pritchard will likely be used against Harangody.
The likely consensus No. 1 team in America, UNC, headlines the eight-team tournament. IU won the Maui Invitational in 2002.
Quarterfinal #1: Saint Joe's* (21-13) vs. Texas* (31-7), 3 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Quarterfinal #2: Indiana* (25-8) vs. Notre Dame* (25-8), 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Quarterfinal #3: North Carolina* (36-3) vs. Chaminade% (21-8), 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU Quarterfinal #4: Oregon* (18-14) vs. Alabama (17-16), 11:59 p.m. ET, ESPN2
