UNC Hopes Maui Invitational Brings Good Luck Yet Again

It may not make him much different from anyone else, but here’s a true story about UNC head men’s basketball coach Roy Williams.

He loves Hawaii.

When the bracket for November’s Maui Invitational was released on Wednesday he was plenty excited to talk about his upcoming trip–one that has brought the Tar Heels good fortune in the past.

The perfect temperatures, sandy beaches and deep blue oceans make Hawaii the ideal vacation spot.

But to use one of the greatest sports clichés of all time, the Tar Heels are supposed to be on a business trip—attempting to win three games in three days against a field full of tough major conference opponents

The bracket for the 2016 Maui Invitational–which takes place from Nov. 21-23. (Photo via @MauiInv)

Making his tournament-record sixth appearance as a head coach, Williams knows more than anybody how tough it is to stay focused out there.

“First time I went [in 1996 while at Kansas], I thought it was the greatest preseason tournament I’ve ever been involved in,” he said during the tournament’s media teleconference. “I almost would not leave the islands–until they promised me I could come back four years later.”

If history tells us anything it’s that another trip to the Final Four could be in the cards for UNC depending on how the team performs in Maui.

In each of the three seasons–1999, 2004 and 2008–the Tar Heels took home the prize, they ended up reaching the Final Four later on that year.

Listening to Williams, it appears this year’s group led by veterans Joel Berry, Justin Jackson and Kennedy Meeks should have the right makeup to accomplish the feat again.

“It is a long trip, and you’ve gotta remain focused on why you’re going,” the coach said. “So you need experienced players that have been through it before.

“We’ve been successful sometimes, and sometimes we haven’t been as successful.”

UNC will get a break in the first round this season, as it was matched up with the host school—Division II’s Chaminade University. Although the Silverswords have pulled major upsets before, it’s highly unlikely in this instance.

UNC will need Joel Berry to step into a larger role this season, especially if the Tar Heels are going to win the Maui Invitational. (Todd Melet)

Should the Tar Heels move on, they’ll play the winner of Oklahoma State and UCONN. Awaiting them in the finals could be one of four strong teams—including Oregon, a No. 1 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

In preparation for the early season gauntlet, UNC has already used each of its four summer practices as Williams gets his young players acclimated to the college game.

“My goal has always been—number one–let the freshmen understand what practice is gonna be like,” Williams said. “Number two is to talk to them and get them to understand the secondary break.

“And then three is the pace of the game that we want to play with,” he added. “To emphasize to them that they may think they’re in shape, but they’re nowhere near in shape to play.”

By November, every player should be in full game shape as the Tar Heels look to embark on yet another successful season.

And sure, it might not be the end of the world if UNC comes up short in Maui like it did back in 2012. But previous evidence says this vacation usually ends up a lot like Groundhog Day.

Win and good things happen. Lose and they don’t.

Only time will tell if that remains true.

UNC Hopes Maui Invitational Brings Good Luck Yet Again

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