Aug. 5, 2008

Complete Bracket in PDF Format

CHAPEL HILL - The University of North Carolina men's basketball team returns to the EA Sports Maui Invitational and will begin play on November 24th against Chaminade University, the host school.

The 2008 Maui Invitational is in its 25th year. This year's field includes UNC, Chaminade, Alabama, Indiana, Notre Dame, Oregon, Saint Joseph's and Texas.

Tournament play at the Lahaina Civic Center opens with a game between Saint Joseph's and Texas. The Tar Heels play Chaminade, which upset Princeton last year, in the third game at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. That game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

Oregon and Alabama are the other schools in UNC's side of the bracket. The championship game is Wednesday, November 26 (the day before Thanksgiving) at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.

Remaining game tickets go on sale to the general public on August 13 at 3 p.m. Eastern time at mauiinvitational.com. Travel packages with game tickets and hotel accommodations are still available through Oahu Travel, the tournament's official travel agency (800-826-3822).

The Tar Heels have won the Maui Invitational in 1999 under head coach Bill Guthridge and in 2004 under head coach Roy Williams. Williams also led Kansas to the title in 1996.

Carolina is one of four schools to win the event more than once (with Duke, Syracuse and Michigan).