Texas Basketball: 3 bold predictions for the Maui Invitational

A big step is about to happen for the Texas basketball program early in the 2020-21 regular season, when they take part in the Maui Invitational.

The season opener was good to head coach Shaka Smart and the Texas basketball program back on Nov. 25. On Thanksgiving-eve, Texas got to open up their 2020-21 regular season schedule at home at the Frank Erwin Center against the UTRGV Vaqueros. It was the first meaningful game action for Texas since back in early March, in their 2019-20 regular season finale loss at home to the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Since Smart and the Longhorns got to get back in action earlier this week, a season with high expectations saw its first real step. Texas got the best of UTRGV in their season opener on Nov. 25, by the final score of 91-55. It was nice to see the Longhorns take care of business against a less talented opponent like UTRGV at home, despite the inconsistent track record in games like that for Smart.

Texas will now take their 1-0 (0-0 Big 12) record into their next game, which is in the first round of the Maui Invitational against the Davidson Wildcats on Nov. 30. The entirety of the Camping World Maui Invitational will take place at a new location, in Asheville, NC.

After the Longhorns face Davidson in the first round of the Maui Invitational, depending on the outcome of that game, they will either get the Indiana Hoosiers or Providence Friars in the second round. Texas fell short to Providence last season so that would be a nice shot at revenge. And Indiana would also be a fun matchup with a talented team like Texas.

The other teams competing in the Maui Invitational this year includes the North Carolina Tar Heels, Alabama Crimson Tide, Stanford Cardinal, and UNLV Rebels. That is a solid field of teams that would make it tough for Texas to make it all the way to the Championship Round (which takes place on Dec. 2).

Here’s a look at three bold predictions for the Longhorns in their quest for a Maui Invitational title, starting on Nov. 30 against Davidson.