Hogs to open Maui Invitational against Louisville

The Lahaina Civic Center, home of the Maui Invitational, is shown Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

FAYETTEVILLE — The bracket is set for the 39th Maui Invitational in late November.

Arkansas, which is making its fourth appearance at the event and first since 2013, will play Louisville in its first game on Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. Central on ESPN2. Depending on the outcome, the Razorbacks will face Texas Tech or Creighton on Nov. 22, then play their final game Nov. 23.

Ohio State, San Diego State, Cincinnati and Arizona are on the opposite side of the bracket.

For the first time since 2019, the tournament is being held in Hawaii. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, it was played in Asheville, N.C., in 2020 and Las Vegas in 2021.

Arkansas is 3-4 all-time against Louisville, including 2-3 on neutral floors. The teams last played in November 2009 when the Cardinals defeated the Razorbacks 96-66 at the Hall of Fame Showcase in St. Louis.

Dating to 1979, four of the other six meetings in the series took place in the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas won 73-62 in 1979 and won 74-73 in 1981 behind U.S. Reed’s half-court shot as time expired. Louisville eliminated the Razorbacks with victories of 65-63 in 1983 and 93-84 in 1989.

The Cardinals are led by first-year coach Kenny Payne, a former Louisville player and assistant coach with the NBA’s New York Knicks and at Kentucky and Oregon. He was hired in March to replace Chris Mack, who was fired in January.

Louisville finished last season at 13-19 overall. It was the program’s first losing season since 2000-01.

Arkansas is 1-1 all-time against Creighton. The programs last met in December 1962, a 73-61 victory by the Razorbacks in Oklahoma City. 

On July 26, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello placed the Bluejays at No. 7 in his updated way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2022-23 season.

The Razorbacks are 40-40 against Texas Tech. The teams last met in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis, where the Razorbacks defeated the Red Raiders 68-66 to advance to the program’s first Sweet 16 since 1996.

Arkansas and Texas Tech have also played twice in the Big 12/SEC Challenge in recent years. The Razorbacks won 75-68 in overtime in Fayetteville in 2016, and the Red Raiders won 67-64 in Lubbock, Texas, in 2019.

Borzello placed Texas Tech at No. 24 in his updated way-too-early top 25 rankings for the upcoming season. The Red Raiders finished last season 27-10 overall and advanced to the Sweet 16.

Louisville is the sixth known opponent on Arkansas’ upcoming non-conference schedule. The Razorbacks are scheduled to open the season Nov. 7 against North Dakota State, host San Jose State on Dec. 3, face Oklahoma in Tulsa on Dec. 10, and host North Carolina-Asheville on Dec. 21.

Arkansas’ final non-conference game is at Baylor on Jan. 28 as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. It will be the Razorbacks’ first trip to Waco, Texas, since January 1991.

Arkansas’ known 2022-23 schedule

Nov. 7 — North Dakota State (season opener)

Nov. 21 — Louisville (Maui Invitational)

Nov. 22 — Texas Tech OR Creighton (Maui Invitational)

Nov. 23 — TBD (Maui Invitational)

Dec. 3 — San Jose State

Dec. 10 — Oklahoma (Tulsa)

Dec. 21 — UNC-Asheville

Jan. 28 — at Baylor (Big 12/SEC Challenge)