UNC, others will play in 2020 Maui Invitational in Asheville. How did that happen?
North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams loves Maui, but playing the Maui Invitational in Asheville this year, he said, will be a thrill.
“As many people know, Maui is one of my favorite places in the world and I’ve always loved playing in that tournament,” Williams said. “I love the people that run it, but because of Covid I know we can’t go to Maui this time. I was pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago when I heard Asheville might be one of the locations that was being considered as an alternate site. From what I understand, the people in Asheville did a great job explaining to the tournament staff that they run the Southern Conference Tournament there, they have the hotel space, they have everything we would need, and at the end of the day it looks like Asheville won out through that process.”
Williams, a three-time national champion, played high school basketball at Asheville’s Roberson High School and his first coaching job was at Owen High in nearby Black Mountain.
“Again, Maui is one of my favorite places to go, but my hometown is as well, and I congratulate the people in Asheville because they did a great job convincing the tournament organizers that they will do a great job,” Williams said. “Now I have to concern myself with making sure our basketball team plays well.”
The major early season college basketball tournament will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center. The field includes Roy Williams’ Tar Heels, Davidson, Alabama, Indiana, Providence, Stanford, Texas and UNLV. Those teams, along with staff and ESPN media, will be in a bubble environment that limits their movements and interaction outside the venue.
The Tournament is expected to generate more than $1.1 million in economic impact in Buncombe County, according to Demp Bradford, president of the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission.
“We couldn’t be more excited and deeply honored to bring the Maui Jim Maui Invitational here to Asheville,” Bradford said. “Asheville’s ability to host this top-level sporting event is a testament to state and local partnerships built on a track record of welcoming and supporting national, and international, competitive events to Buncombe County.”
The Maui Invitational was originally set for Nov. 23-25 but is being moved 4,500 miles east to the North Carolina mountains, where the teams will play in the 7,674-seat ExploreAsheville.com Arena. The Southern Conference basketball tournaments were held there from 2012-14.
The tournament is still waiting to hear if Stanford can play in the event. The Pac-12 has prohibited winter teams from playing until after Jan. 1, though that ruling could change.
ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast the tournament.
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 1:59 PM.
