Texas Basketball: Maui Invitational still on for the 2020-21 season
At the moment it appears that the Texas basketball program will still get to compete in the field for the Maui Invitational Tournament this season.
A lot of college sports that are slated to start their schedules during the fall semester are getting called into question right now during the novel coronavirus pandemic. And the Texas basketball program is one that was already impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament were both cancelled out back in March.
The Longhorns football program is likely one to have some level of major adjustments for the impending 2020 season. At least the Longhorns men’s basketball program has more time to get things set for the 2020-21 season. And they’ll need to be ready since the looming college hoops season won’t feature an easy non-conference slate for Texas.
Not only does Texas have non-conference opponents like the Gonzaga Bulldogs and someone to be named later in the Big East/Big 12 Battle, but they’re also taking part in the Maui Invitational Tournament this season. Texas is going to have a tough slate if they’re able to make any noise beyond the first game or two.
Sources: The 2020 Maui Invitational is proceeding to be held as scheduled in Hawaii. Contingency plans are being discussed if circumstances arise due to coronavirus.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 8, 2020
Field includes North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, Providence, Stanford, Alabama, Davidson, and UNLV.
However, even the Maui Invitational was called into question of late in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. There might even be some adjustments that are made to that tourney this coming season.
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports did post on his Twitter timeline on the morning of July 8 that the Maui Invitational is still planned to go ahead this season. “Contingency plans” are apparently being discussed, but as of now they’re going ahead with the tourney.
The field of teams that the Longhorns will be facing in the Maui Invitational this year could include the North Carolina Tar Heels, Indiana Hoosiers, UNLV Rebels, Stanford Cardinal, Alabama Crimson Tide, Davidson Wildcats, and Providence Friars. Two of those teams Texas faced in the non-conference slate in the last two years too.
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Texas is slated right now to open up their hoops season on Nov. 10 against the Louisiana. They finished up the 2019-20 season with a record of 19-12 (9-9 Big 12) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic halting the rest of the Big 12 Tournament.