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Men's Basketball Courtesy of Susie Chang

The EA SPORTS Maui Invitational® Hosted by Chaminade University Announces 2008 Bracket

Tournament commemorates 25th year of launching college basketball season with powerhouse field

MAUI, Hawaii, Aug. 5, 2008 – The EA SPORTS Maui Invitational today announced the official bracket for the 2008 edition of the nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament. Marking its milestone 25th year, the eight-team competition will return to Maui's ocean-front Lahaina Civic Center Nov.24-26.

Battling this year for the coveted Wayne Duke Championship Trophy, will be North Carolina, Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, Oregon, Saint Joseph's, Alabama and host Chaminade. Six of the seven Division I teams in the 2008 lineup participated in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, highlighted by North Carolina's Final Four appearance and Texas' run to the Elite Eight. The field also includes three former national champions – North Carolina, Indiana and Oregon – with 10 NCAA titles between them.

The ESPN networks will combine once again to offer live television coverage of all 12 tournament games. In addition, ESPN360.com will provide live simulcasts of the games televised on ESPN and ESPN2.

“Throughout its history the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational has become synonymous with the kickoff of the college basketball season,” said Tournament Chairman Dave Gavitt. “We look forward to commemorating the tournament's 25th year with another impressive field vying for Maui glory. Fans from across the nation can look forward to a memorable experience, on and off the court.”

First-round action tips off Thanksgiving week on Monday, Nov. 24, with Game One featuring Atlantic 10 team and Maui newcomer, Saint Joseph's, led by coach Phil Martelli, against 2008 Elite Eight participant and three-time Maui team, Texas, under head coach Rick Barnes. The winner of this game will take on the winner of Game Two, pitting in-state rivals for battle as five-time national champion and 2002 Maui champ, Indiana, guided by new coach Tom Crean, will face head coach Mike Brey and Notre Dame, a growing BIG EAST force returning for a second appearance at the Lahaina Civic Center. Four-time national champion and two-time Maui titleholder, North Carolina, will hit the hardwood in Game Three, as Hall of Famer Roy Williams pilots his highly touted Tar Heels in a contest with 2008 PacWest Conference champion and tournament host Chaminade, which pulled off an upset over Princeton in Maui last year. The winner of that game will square off with the winner of Game Four, which pairs two teams making their Maui debut: head coach Ernie Kent will call the shots when former national champion and 2007 Pac-10 Conference titleholder, Oregon, plays against the Crimson Tide of Alabama, a Mark Gottfried-led team looking to make its mark in paradise.

The semifinals will take place Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN, with the winners advancing to the championship game Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. Eastern (also on ESPN).

Remaining game tickets including school specific Booster Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. Eastern time (9 a.m. Hawaiian time) via the tournament Web site at www.mauiinvitational.com.   Travel packages with game tickets and hotel accommodations are still available through Oahu Travel, the tournament's official travel agency (800.826.3822). In addition, tickets for the tournament's Tip-Off Banquet, a special evening with the 2008 participating head coaches and teams set for Sunday, Nov. 23, and a spot the 5th Annual EA SPORTS Maui Golf Invitational on Thanksgiving Day are still available. Visit the Web site's “Tickets & Travel” section for details.

EA SPORTS, the world's leading interactive entertainment software company and developer of the top-selling NCAA® March Madness® videogame, enters its eighth year as title sponsor of the Maui Invitational.

Other tournament sponsors include the Maui Visitors Bureau, County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, adidas, GEICO and Gatorade. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Sheraton Maui Resort and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, all located in the beautiful Ka'anapali Beach resort area, serve as host hotels for the thousands of fans and boosters who annually accompany their teams to Maui. KemperSports has operated the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational since 1990.

For up-to-the-minute tournament schedule, ticket and general information, visit the official tournament Web site at www.mauiinvitational.com.

About KemperSports
KemperSports Marketing & Communications, an affiliate of Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports, is a sports marketing, events and public relations agency, which has produced and managed major national and international events and communications programs, including the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational college basketball tournament, numerous PGA TOUR events and The Art of Food & Wine Palm Desert. For more information, visit www.kempersports.com.

Editor's note
•    Bracket with first-round starting times below in jpg.
•    Contact Susie Chang/Lisa Gunggoll for bracket and/or tournament logos (PDF, JPG and EPS formats) as well as high-resolution tournament images.
•    Media planning travel to Maui should contact Oahu Travel at 800.826.3822 to make arrangements immediately. Hotels and flights are going quickly.
•    Media credential applications can be downloaded at http://www.mauiinvitational.com/media. You may also contact Susie Chang at KemperSports to apply for press credentials.
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Contact:
Susie Chang
Media Relations Manager   
630.709.3620 cell, schang@kempersports.com

Lisa Gunggoll
Director of Media Relations
708.829.8669 cell, lgunggoll@kempersports.com
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