2018 Maui Invitational bracket released; Arizona will play Iowa State in first round

The 2018 Maui Invitational bracket was announced Tuesday and the Arizona Wildcats will play the Iowa State Cyclones in the first round on November 19.

If Arizona wins, it will either play Gonzaga or Illinois in the second round, and then possibly Duke in the championship game.

Here is the full bracket:

Iowa State went 13-18 last year, which was its lowest win total since 2001-02. The Cyclones were the 103rd team in the country, per KenPom.

They should be improved this season though, as they return a majority of their roster, including five of their top six scorers and their leading scorer, Lindell Wigginton.

The sophomore, a member of the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team last season, averaged 16.7 points per game.

In general, this Maui Invitational field is considered one of the strongest in tournament history, especially since Chaminade, the host school, is not participating this year.

Arizona won it the last time it participated (2014) but it might have to beat two top-five teams — Gonzaga and Duke — to do it again. That is a tall task for a team that lost its top five scorers from a season ago.

But even if the Wildcats can’t win the Maui Invitational, it should provide some valuable experience, considering the rest of their non-conference schedule is fairly weak.

This will be Arizona’s seventh appearance in the Maui, tied with North Carolina for the most in tournament history. The Wildcats also won it in 2000.