30th Maui Invitational
Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii
ARKANSAS (3-0)
Coach: Mike Anderson
Update: With the loss of its two best scorers from a year ago, athletic wing Michael Qualls (16.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) has taken a much bigger role, and forward transfer Alandise Harris has already proved his worth (18.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Arkansas likes to press and has turned opponents over at a rate of 26.8 percent, the sixth-best mark in the nation.
CALIFORNIA (4-0)
Coach: Mike Montgomery
Update: The Bears have four starters back. The 6-10 Richard Solomon has been averaging a double-double early. Like the Gophers, Cal plays smaller lineups, often with Solomon as the only traditional post player. David Kravish has been effective rebounding in a wing role, and freshman Jabari Bird leads the team in scoring (13.5 ppg).
MINNESOTA (5-0)
Coach: Richard Pitino
Update: The frontcourt has brought the biggest surprises. Elliott Eliason is averaging 11.2 rebounds a game after just 3.5 last year, and 6-9 forward Oto Osenieks has looked like a new player early on. Post player Mo Walker can return from a suspension on Tuesday, but Joey King is still out because of a fractured jaw.
No. 9 SYRACUSE (4-0)
Coach: Jim Boeheim
Update: C.J. Fair's decision to forego the NBA draft could not possibly mean more for the Orange, which lost three of its four best players from last season. Fair is averaging 18 points and 5.5 rebounds a game and is the core of one of the best frontcourts in the nation, full of length and athleticism. Jerami Grant, a 6-8 sophomore, has taken off.
