Maui madness

A Maui Invitational without Bill Walton delivered so much drama and compelling storylines, it’s a shame the big fella isn’t around. I would’ve loved his take on perhaps the most entertaining Maui day ever.

We had Memphis up by 13 with 4 minutes left, and beat UConn in OT, Iowa State led by 18 and lost to Auburn, and Dayton led by 21 in the second half and lost to North Carolina.

Man. let’s break it down.

1. Memphis edges UConn, with plenty of controversy

Let’s start with the technical. It’s all anyone talked about after Memphis’ 99-97 win vs. No. 2 UConn on Monday in the Maui Invitational opener.

In case you were busy working during, I’ll set the stage: It’s overtime and the teams are tied, 92-92. UConn wing Liam McNeeley was called for over-the-back, which led the Huskies coach Dan Hurley yelling at the refs, getting a technical foul, and Memphis hitting all four free throws as a result.

Was it a poorly timed and bad call? Probably. Did Hurley lay into the refs all game? Yes. But both pieces of context aren’t in Hurley’s postgame statements.

There’s more of statement here, but let’s be clear: this wasn’t about one play.

UConn (4-1) was playing its first meaningful game this season and it wasn’t ready. Memphis (5-0) led for much of the first half, and built a double-digit led midway through the second half. The Huskies couldn’t match Memphis’ backcourt (Tyrese Hunter and PJ Haggerty combined for 48 points and benefitted from the famously kind Maui rims), dealt with foul trouble throughout, and had another careless foul late in the second half when center Samson Johnson pushed Moussa Cisse. He, Solo Ball and Tarris Reed all fouled out.

UConn’s offense picked up steam as the game wore on — it scored 1.31 points per possession and hit 14-of-30 3s — but Memphis was even better, scoring 1.34 ppp, shooting 55% from the field and adding 29 made free throws to their 12 3s. The UConn defense isn’t what it was the last two seasons. That’s the biggest reason they lost for the first time since Feb. 20.

As the After Dark crew noted, there were enough layers to the game that there could be several takes on the game.

And there’s a take where Memphis deserves more of the credit than Hurley deserves blame. As Tyrese Hunter said afterward, the Tigers entered the game confident and playing well. They always knew they’d have a shot to win.

Bottom line: Credit Memphis in this game. It made loads of tough shots, looked every bit as long and more athletic than UConn and now has a chance to leave Maui with more statement wins. Sounds like an ideal setup for Penny Hardaway.

2. Auburn, North Carolina both stage remarkable rallies

It’d be one thing if No. 4 Auburn merely made an 18-point comeback on Monday night at Maui. It’s something else to beat No. 5 Iowa State like this.

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