ASSOCIATED PRESS
From left to right, Gonzaga coach Mike Few, Kentucky's Tubby Smith, Indiana's Mike Davis and Chaminade's Aaron Griess posed with custom surf boards yesterday on Kaanapali beach.
LAHAINA >> Mark Few understands what being a coach at a 'mid-major' school is all about. Gonzaga, more than any other Division I basketball program in the country, has risen above the stigma of being in an underrated and overlooked league such as the West Coast Conference. Tourneys important for Few
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comFew credits an exempted tournament, the Great Alaska Shootout, for putting his Bulldogs on the map. It's why he, and a majority of his National Association of Basketball Coaches peers, are hoping that the NCAA rule limiting appearances in exempted tournaments to twice every four years is either repealed or modified.
"From our standpoint, when we played up in Fairbanks several years ago, it started our whole run," the fourth-year Gonzaga coach said during yesterday's press conference for the 19th EA Sports Maui Invitational. "We got to play against some top competition that we wouldn't have had the opportunity to play unless it was a road situation. It gave our players a tremendous amount of confidence and the program has been on a continuous rise since then.
"Prior to that, we never had an opportunity to play someone in a neutral place. There is such parity in college basketball and there's a place for everyone involved, whether it's the ACC, West Coast or Big Sky. It's a tremendous benefit to everyone and I hope they take a long look at getting this straightened out because these tournaments are the best things we've got going outside of the NCAA Tournament."
No. 21 Gonzaga is one of three ranked teams in the eight-team event that began this morning at the Lahaina Civic Center. In addition to No. 17 Kentucky and No. 22 Indiana are host Chaminade, Virginia, Arizona State, Utah and Massachusetts.
The 2-in-4 exemption was challenged last summer by organizers of several tournaments in an antitrust lawsuit filed in Ohio. The judge has delayed judgment and could issue a verdict as early as next month.
The delay caused a last-minute scramble to fill schedules by schools who had hoped that the judge would find in favor of the plaintiffs and against the NCAA. Among those affected were Hawaii, which ended up decertifying next month's Nike Festival, and Hawaii Pacific and Brigham Young-Hawaii, which had to cancel tournaments.
"Everyone is pushing for it, but for different reasons," said Jim O'Connell, the national basketball writer for the Associated Press. "But everyone has their own agenda. This one judge has got to decide whether to rule in favor of the big guys who get to go year after year, or the mid-majors. Or he can say, 'Look, everyone has to play by the same set of rules. You all get 28 games. Go where you want.'
"Big schools like Syracuse, Kentucky and Kansas can't and won't give up home games. It's big business at those places that bring in huge amounts of money. The ruling will affect college basketball, either way. For selfish reasons, I hope we don't lose the exempted tournaments because, without these, we're going to see that old Dick Vitale cupcake schedule."
The Maui Invitational is in an enviable position. Today, tournament organizers officially announced a 10-year television deal with ESPN. As will happen this week, all first-round games will be televised live, as well as the two semifinals on the second day, and the championship, third- and fifth-place games on the last day.
"The future of the Maui Invitational is sunny," said tournament chair Wayne Duke. "We're fortunate that, exemption or no exemption, our future is solid. But we have worked hard for years to put the tournament in that position where we can now help with expenses.
"The problem as I see it, there was a reason for the 'Hawaii Exemption' 45 years ago that (the late UH athletic director) Hank Vasconcellos generated. The sad part is tournaments like the Rainbow Classic are no longer being treated separately. They are being put in the same bottle with the plethora of events. In terms of numbers of teams and events, there are not enough teams to fill the tournaments. It's all about money and it's a no-brainer if I am Indiana and can sell out Assembly Hall vs. going somewhere to a tournament and having to pay."
Both Utah coach Rick Majerus and Arizona State coach Rob Evans feel the cultural aspect of coming to Hawaii is priceless.
"Some of these kids would never get a chance to come here if it wasn't for this tournament," said Evans. "We forget that these kids not only get to the basketball experience but also the cultural experience."
"I asked Andre Miller what his three best memories were of his career at Utah," said Majerus, who brought the Utes here in 1994 and 1998. "He told me getting his degree, playing in the NCAA Tournament and playing in the Maui Invitational.
"It's an experience they'll never forget."
Tournament changes: For the first time in the history of the event there will be air conditioning in the Lahaina Civic Center. Humidity and heat have always been a problem, but last year the floor was especially slippery, prompting complaints that led to the A.C.
The three NCAA experimental rules will also be in effect. The 3-point line has been moved back 9 inches to 20 feet, 6 inches; the free-throw lane has been widened by 2 feet on each side; and the large free-throw land block, located 8 feet from the end line, creates a neutral zone that prohibits players from stepping into the zone prior to the free-throw shooter's release.
"I think these are significant changes that are meant to help the game," said Hank Nichols, NCAA officials coordinator. "Hopefully, the coaches here will take a good look at them and give us feedback."
New head man: Part of Indiana's travel party includes school president Myles Brand, the NCAA president-elect. He takes office next year.
"I'm in a listen-and-learn mode," he said. "I've seen athletics from the academic side and I'm trying to gain wisdom from those around me.
"I'm looking forward to this. It's an opportunity of a lifetime."
Upcoming fields: Next year's participants have already been announced. The field includes host Chaminade, Ohio State, California, Dayton, Florida State, San Diego State, Villanova and, for the first time, the Rainbows.
In 2004, Stanford, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisville and Iowa have already committed. In 2005, teams include Maryland, Connecticut, Arkansas, Michigan State and Kansas.
What: 19th EA Sports Maui Invitational Maui Invitational
Where: Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Today: Chaminade vs. Virginia, 9 a.m.; Massachusetts vs. Indiana, noon; Arizona State vs. Kentucky, 4 p.m.; Utah vs. Gonzaga, 6:30 p.m.
Online: mauiinvitational.com
