Starting Five: Maui Invitational

Monday, November 22

Las Vegas, NV

1:00 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Texas A&M

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Chucky Hepburn dribbles the ball during a game at the 2021 Maui Jim Maui Invitational

Starting Five: Maui Invitational

November 18, 2021 | Men's Basketball

Game Notes (PDF)/news/2021/11/23/mens-basketball-wisconsin-dominant-first-half-holds-off-no-12-houston.aspx Badgers First-Half Comeback Stuns Aggies

Badgers advance to championship game

By: Jose Montoya

Wisconsin

4-1, 0-0 Big Ten

Saint Mary's

6-0, 0-0 WCC

Game Coverage

Nov. 24 | 4 p.m. CT | Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay | Las Vegas, Nev.

LAS VEGAS – Coming off wins over Texas A&M and No. 12 Houston, Wisconsin is set to face Saint Mary's in the championship game of the Maui Invitational on Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN. Here's your Starting Five before the title bout.

1. On, Wisconsin to the Championship: Coming off wins over Texas A&M (69-58) and No. 12 Houston (65-63), Wisconsin advanced to the Maui Invitational championship game. Johnny Davis notched career-high point performances in back-to-back games, scoring 21 points against Texas A&M followed by 30 points versus Houston.

2. Senior Salute: Senior Brad Davison followed up his 19-point performance against Texas A&M by making a difference down the stretch for the Badgers against Houston. Davison went 4-for-4 from the charity strike and drew five fouls to seal UW's first win over a ranked opponent since a 71-59 victory at Michigan State (1/17/21).

3. B1G Implications: Wisconsin is looking to become the first Big Ten team to win the Maui Invitational since Illinois in 2012.

4. Back in the 'Ship: Wisconsin will play in the Maui Invitational championship game for the second time in program history. In 2016, the Badgers fell to No. 4 North Carolina, 71-56.

5. History with Saint Mary's: The Gaels lead the all-time series with the Badgers, 2-1. The two teams met in the 2019-20 season-opener when Saint Mary's earned a 65-63 victory in overtime. Brad Davison finished with 16 points in that game.

Wednesday evening's Maui Invitational title game can be seen on ESPN or listened to live on 1310 WIBA. Tip is set for 4 p.m. CT.

WISCONSIN VS. THE MAUI INVITATIONAL FIELD

TEXAS A&M AGGIES
All-Time Series: UW leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Wisconsin 69, Texas A&M 58 (Nov. 22, 2021 – Las Vegas, Nev.)
Prior to the 2021 Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the Badgers and Aggies had met just once with Wisconsin edging out a 71-69 win in the Lobo Invitational in Albuqueque, New Mexico in 1984. Entering this week's tournament, the Badgers are 4-3 all-time against Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams, splitting 6 meetings when Williams was with Marquette (2009-14) and knocking off Williams' Virginia Tech team, 84-74, in the 2017 NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.

HOUSTON COUGARS
All-Time Series: UW leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Houston 82, Wisconsin 57 (Dec. 11, 1965 – Houston, Texas)
Wisconsin and Houston had met twice entering the Maui Invitational, playing a home and home series in 1964 and 1965 with each team winning on its home floor. The Badgers claimed a 76-65 win in Madison before the Cougars answered with a 82-57 win in Houston. UW went 2-1 against Kelvin Sampson-led Indiana in 2007 and 2008.

BUTLER BULLDOGS
All-Time Series: UW leads, 17-14
Last Meeting: Butler 61, Wisconsin 54 (March 24, 2011 – New Orleans, La.)
UW and Butler have met 31 times times in a series dating back to 1921, but just twice since 1990. In the most recent meeting, the Bulldogs pulled out a 61-54 win in the 2011 Sweet 16 in New Orleans, La. Butler head coach Lavall Jordan was a player for the Bulldogs when the teams met in 2001. Jordan had 7 points and 5 rebounds in Butler's 58-44 win in Madison.

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
All-Time Series: UND leads, 19-10
Last Meeting: Notre Dame 61, Wisconsin 56 (March 25, 2016 – Philadelphia, Pa.)
In a series that began in 1927, the Badgers and Irish have met 19 times, with 17 of the match-ups coming before 1969. Notre Dame has taken the two most recent meetings, posting a 58-51 win in the championship game of the 2010 Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla. and stealing a comeback 61-56 win in the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia, Pa.

OREGON DUCKS
All-Time Series: UW leads 5-3
Last Meeting: Oregon 72, Wisconsin 54 (March 22, 2019 – San Jose, Calif.)
Wisconsin owns a 5-3 edge in a series that began in 1951, including a 2-1 mark in the NCAA tournament. The Badgers knocked off the Ducks, 85-77, in the 2nd round of the 2014 Big Dance and 72-65 in the 2nd round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Oregon got payback with a 72-54 win in the 1st round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Brad Davison had 4 pts and 3 reb in that game.

SAINT MARY'S GAELS
All-Time Series: SMC leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Saint Mary's 65-63 (OT) (Nov. 5, 2019 - Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Saint Mary's has taken 2 of 3 all-time meetings against UW. The Badgers split a pair of match-ups at the UW Field House, falling 62-60 in 1974 before claiming an 82-76 win in 1976. The teams also met in the 2019-20 season-opener as SMC pulled out a 65-63 OT win at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Brad Davison had 16 pts and 4 reb, while Tyler Wahl scored 2 pts.

CHAMINADE SILVERSWORDS
All-Time Series: UW leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Wisconsin 104, Chaminade 66 (Nov. 22, 1995 – Maui Invitational)
The Badgers faced Chaminade in their 1995 trip to the Maui Invitational, scoring a
104-66 win over the Silverswords in game three. In the first three games under head coach Dick Bennett, Wisconsin fell to No. 3 Villanova and No. 4 UCLA in their first two games of the tournament before taking on Chaminade.