North Carolina Wins 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational

Championship Game: North Carolina Rolls to 71-56 Win Over Wisconsin

North Carolina cruised to a fourth Maui Jim Maui Invitational title after defeating Wisconsin 71-56. Joel Berry II, named Tournament Most Valuable Player, scored 22 points. Kennedy Meeks had 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds before he was named to the All-Tournament team.

The Tar Heels, who faced Chaminade and Oklahoma State in the first two rounds, won by a combined 75 points, and looked like a national title contender. According to Oklahoma State head coach Brad Underwood the Tar Heels are “the best team in the country.” The team’s previous titles resulted in two national championships and a Final Four appearance.

Vitto Brown led Wisconsin with 15 points and Ethan Happ, who also earned All-Tournament accolades, had 13.

During the post-game press conference Coach Roy Williams said, “We’re very happy to win Maui Invitational. It’s a tournament that I love. I always tell them I don’t leave the island until they let me sign a contract to come back in four years. And they really like to get rid of me so they let me sign a contract before I get out of here.”

He continued saying, “Early in the game it was both teams trying really, really hard and nobody could put the ball in the basket.  For us, Joel was our offense the first six or eight minutes, the only offense we had. Then we sort of got into a rhythm a little bit better. I’ve always said I like to win games in the 80s or 90s but to be a really good team you’ve got to be able to win in the 50s and 60s.”

North Carolina’s Joel Berry II, who was named the Most Valuable Player said, “I think, honestly, just being more involved in the game. Over in Honolulu, I didn’t even feel like myself on the defensive end. And usually that’s what gets me going. And so I tried to do a great job on Bronson tonight. That was my key.”

Berry continued saying, “I wasn’t worried about anything else but playing defense on him and trying to stop him because he was their best player. And if we stop him, you know the points couldn’t come from him. So I tried my best on that. And once I get myself going on the defensive end, I just feel like everything in my game clicks. So that’s what I did this whole tournament and it helped me out a lot.”

All-Tournament Team
Rohndell Goodwin, Chaminade
Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State
Jalen Adams, UConn
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin

Dr. Sue Wesselkamper Most Valuable Player
Joel Berry II, North Carolina

Game 9: Tennessee Knocks Off Chaminade, 95-81

Tennessee rolled past Chaminade, 95-81, on the final day of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. Five Tennessee players scored in double figures, including Robert Hubbs III, who finished with a career-high 28 points on Wednesday.

Rohndell Goodwin scored 22 points for Chaminade, and Kiran Shastri added 19.

Game 10: Oregon Ends Maui Trip With Victory Against UConn

Oregon beat UConn 79-69 to end their trip to Maui. Dylan Ennis had 15 points and Jordan Bell added 12 for Oregon, which shot 54 percent and made 9 of 21 from 3-point range.

The Ducks attacked the Huskies from the jump, scoring the game’s first 10 points before blowing it out to an 18-point lead. The Huskies worked at the lead until it was down to eight with 3 minutes left in the game, but it wasn’t enough. Jalen Adams led the Huskies with 27 points and Rodney Purvis added 13.

Game 11: Oklahoma State Cruises In 97-70 Win Over Georgetown

Oklahoma State beat Georgetown 97-70 in the third place game on Wednesday. The Cowboys’ defense forced 28 turnovers during the matchup, which turned into 41 points. On the offensive end, Oklahoma State tallied 59 bench points compared to Georgetown’s 16. Jeffrey Carroll led the Cowboys with 20 points, and Jawun Evans added 13.

2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational Champions. PC: Maui Invitational.

UW #30 Vitto Brown. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UW #22 Ethan Happ. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UW #22 Ethan Happ. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC #4 Isaiah Hicks. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC #5 Tony Bradley. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC Head Coach and MVP. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC Head Coach Roy Williams. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UW #10 Nigel Hayes. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC #4 Isaiah Hicks. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC #3 Meeks. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC #2 Joel Berry II. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC #2 Joel Berry II. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

UNC #44 Justin Jackson. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Future Lady Tar Heel. Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

Championship game between UW vs UNC at the 2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. PC: Joel B. Tamayo.

OSU #30 Jeffrey Carroll. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

OSU #30 Jeffrey Carroll. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

OSU #21 Lindy Waters. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

OSU #14 Lucas Nguessan. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

OSU #1 Jawun Evans. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

OSU #0 Brandon Averette. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

GU #42 Bradley Hayes. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

GU #32 Kaleb Johnson. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

GU #23 Rodney Pryor. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo

GU #23 Pryor. GU vs OSU. PC: Joel B. Tamayo