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1. Maui Invitational announces 2026 bracket

Last season, all of the talk surrounding the Maui Invitational was about how the event was watered down, much due to other Feast Week Tournaments like the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

This year, though, the Maui Invitational is officially BACK! The 2026 field features several teams capable of making deep NCAA Tournament runs.

The first round has two west coast battles between Washington and BYU and Colorado State and Arizona that will be exciting. I’ll be looking to see how Colorado State’s group of mostly returning players fares against Tommy Lloyd’s new-look Wildcats.

The other first round game I’m keeping my eye on is Providence vs. VCU, as both teams are well coached and will be knocking on the door of our preseason top 25.

All in all, this is a much improved field from last season and should bring back the lore of the Maui Invitational. Half of the field, if not more, could be ranked heading into Feast Week.

With that, here’s the rest of Wednesday’s schedule news:

• Finalized non-conference schedules included: Southern Illinois, Nebraska, Maine and Arizona.

• The Cancun Challenge schedule was released.

• Duke’s preseason schedule was announced. 

• Long Beach State will play at UCLA on Monday, Nov. 16.

• UAB announced exhibition games against Vanderbilt (Oct. 19) and Ole Miss (Oct. 27).

2. Merrimack lands highest-rated recruit in program history

Just a season ago, Merrimack brought in a freshman point guard in Kevair Kennedy, who led the team in scoring, assists and steals, won the conference’s player of the year award and will now take the reigns as Wake Forest’s point guard for this coming season.

Head coach Joe Gallo has proved he can get players to the higher Division I levels. Next to possibly be in line? Class of 2027 four-star guard Mekhi Robertson, the highest ranked recruit in Merrimack history.

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