HONOLULU – Thanksgiving is an annual American tradition. On the Chaminade University of Honolulu campus, the Thanksgiving week also means it's time for the annual EA Sports Maui Invitational.
The Silverswords are hoping to recreate the circumstances that spawned the tournament.
The Swords open the EA Sports Maui Invitational in the Lahaina Civic Center Monday against 20
th-ranked Baylor at 4:30 p.m., which will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Last year, Chaminade upset another Big 12 Conference member, Texas, 86-73, in the opening round, its seventh all-time win in the tournament.
Despite this being the 30
th anniversary of EA Sports Maui Invitational, Silverswords head coach
Eric Bovaird cherishes each trip to the Valley Island.
"They all seem special to me," Bovaird said. "If we play really hard over on Maui, they're even more special. It's hard to believe this tournament is 30 years old. It seems like just yesterday that I was a kid with a dream watching this incredible tournament on TV from my Pennsylvania home."
Baylor (4-0) boasts a pair of athletic posts in 7-1 center Isaiah Austin and 6-9 forward Cory Jefferson. Austin has already blocked 22 shots this season while Jefferson has logged three double-doubles. Guard Brady Haslip is the Bears' leading scorer at 15 points per game.
The Silverswords (2-0) will look to counter Baylor's inside presence with their perimeter game. Through its first two games this season, CUH has hit nearly 41 percent of its 3-point shots (22-of-54). Senior guard
Christophe Varidel went for 30 points with five 3-pointers in the Nov. 8 season opener against Western Oregon while freshman
Kiran Shastri had 21 with six from long range the following night against Saint Martin's.
"Baylor has the best frontline in I've seen in college basketball this season so far," Bovaird said. "Along with the strong frontline, they have perhaps the best shooter in college basketball too. They can beat you inside and out.
"We're going to have to play really well to stay in the game against these guys."
The Swords will face either No. 13 Gonzaga or Dayton on Tuesday then conclude the tournament Wednesday.
Also, Oomba, an online streaming video company, will bring fans closer to the action by providing behind-the-scenes video. Post-game press conference following every game will be shown, as well as many of the events will be shown. Many activities the Silverswords will participate in, such as the Adidas Hoops Kids Clinic presented by Hawaiian Airlines and Player's Party on Saturday, will be shown online by Oomba.tv. Click
here to access Oomba.tv
Swords on TV
Monday: 4:30 p.m., ESPNU.
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m., ESPN2 if they lose on Monday; 4:30 p.m., ESPN if they win.
Wednesday: TBA, ESPN or ESPN2
