2023 Feast Week Preview

Image Courtesy: Clarksvilleonline.com

Here is my preview of 2023 Feast Week:

Empire Classic (New York, NY)
November 19-20 (Picks were made before event began today)
Teams Participating: Indiana, Louisville, Texas, Connecticut

Semifinals
5.Connecticut (3-0) vs. Indiana (3-0)
1 PM ET, ESPN
Sophomore Alex Karaban has paced UConn in scoring so far, leading them with 17 points per game in dominant wins over Northern Arizona, Stonehill, and Mississippi Valley State. The level of competition gets much harder when they face Indiana to open things in New York City. The Hoosiers have struggled to fend off FGCU, Army, and Wright State but have figured out how to win all three of those games. Oregon transfer big man Kel’el Ware has shined averaging a double double with over 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. They must get consistent guard play from Xavier Johnson (14 points per game) and Trey Galloway (12 points per game) to contend with the Huskies’ trio of Tristen Newton (15 points per game), Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer (15 points for game), and star freshman Stephon Castle (14.5 points per game).
Projected Score: Connecticut 78, Indiana 70

Louisville (2-1) vs. 19.Texas (3-0)
3 PM ET, ESPN
Kenny Payne has struggled as head coach of the Cardinals. Texas uses a trio of guards, Max Abmas, Ithiel Horton, and Tyrese Hunter (all average almost 15 points per game) to lead their team. It should be pretty easy for the Longhorns against Louisville, who have lost to Chattanooga. Guard Mike James (18 points per game) must play big for the Cardinals if they want to take down Texas. Projected Score: Texas 88, Louisville 72

Third Place Game
Indiana vs. Louisville
4:30 PM ET, ESPNU
The Louisville Cardinals should struggle with Indiana similar to the way they will against Texas. Mike James, Tre White, and Skyy Clark must be able to defend the talented guards on Indiana’s roster, Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway. Indiana wins but it will be closer than many might think.
Projected Score: Indiana 72, Louisville 63

Final
5.Connecticut vs. 19.Texas
7 PM ET, ESPNU
In what would be a great match up in the opening month of the season, Texas must be able to defend inside because Donavan Clingan (15 points and 7 rebounds per game) will kill them. So, it will be up to the defense forwards Kadin Shedrick (10 points and 4 rebounds per game) and Dillon Mitchell (9 points and 10 points per game). If they don’t stop Clingan, UConn should win this game. Projected Score: Connecticut 80, Texas 75

Maui Jim Maui Invitational (Lahaina, HI)
November 20-22
Teams Participating: Chaminade, Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA

Quarterfinals
7.Tennessee (3-0) vs. Syracuse (3-0)
2:30 PM ET, ESPN
Tennessee has not had to rely on All-SEC guard duo Zakai Ziegler (6 points and 2 assists per game) and Santiago Vescovi (6 points per game) like they have had to do the past two seasons. Instead, Dalton Knecht (nearly 20 points per game) and Jordan Gainey (13 points per game) turn Tennessee into an offensive force they have not been under Rick Barnes of late. Syracuse is in a new era under Adrian Autrey. The Orange will not run the famous Jim Boeheim zone defense any more. The man defense Autrey is running has worked through the first three games, with his team undefeated. Judah Mintz looks terrific so far this season, averaging 23 points per game in addition to JJ Starling, the Notre Dame transfer, who puts up nearly 14 points a contest. They will both need to be impactful against the tremendous Volunteer defense. Projected Score: Tennessee 70, Syracuse 62

2.Purdue (3-0) vs. 11.Gonzaga (2-0)
5 PM ET, ESPN2
In what is maybe the best Maui Invitational Field ever, this definitely the best of the four quarterfinal match ups. Purdue has looked great in an undefeated start to the season, highlighted by a win over Xavier in the Gavitt Games at home in West Lafayette. Zach Edey leads his team in points (20.7) and rebounds (10) like you would expect but the impact of transfer Lance Jones (10 points per game) in addition to returning guard Braden Smith (12 points per game) has made Purdue tough to beat. The Boilermakers have not experienced a game in the regular season outside of their building yet so this battle with Gonzaga will be very interesting. Mark Few’s Bulldogs do not have Drew Timme, Jalen Suggs, or Chet Holmgren but he has retooled with a group of freshmen, returners, and transfers. Freshman forward Braden Huff has looked terrific so far this season, scoring 21 points and adding 7.5 rebounds per game. Wyoming transfer Graham Ike (18 points and 7 rebounds per game) and Anton Watson (15.5 points and 9 rebounds per game) also help Huff out in the front court. Those three players will have to step up and rotate in and out to stop Zach Edey’s terrific play.
Projected Score: Purdue 83, Gonzaga 80

1.Kansas (3-0) vs. Chaminade (1-2)
9 PM ET, ESPNU
Kansas won the Maui Invitational Championship back in 2019. They will presumably get an easy opener against host squad Chaminade. The Jayhawks overcame a big deficit to beat Kentucky in the Champions Classic on Tuesday. The big name for the Jayhawks is Michigan transfer center Hunter Dickinson, who put up an incredible double double with 27 points and 21 rebounds. Chaminade will also have to worry about Kansas’ terrific point guard, Dajuan Harris, who paces the Jayhawks as a playmaker with over 7 assists per game. If Kansas do not overlook this game, they should coast to the semifinals. Projected Score: Kansas 88, Chaminade 70

UCLA (3-0) vs. 4.Marquette (3-0)
11:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Mick Cronin had to retool his UCLA roster after losing Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez. One of his returners, Adem Bona (18 points and 8.7 rebounds per game) has been terrific. On the other side, Marquette’s Tyler Kolek (14.7 points and 4.7 assists per game) and Kam Jones (19.3 points and 3 assists per game) make the Golden Eagles go. This game should be back and forth between two of the best coaches in the country Cronin and Shaka Smart. Projected Score: Marquette 77, UCLA 70

Semifinals
7.Tennessee vs. 2.Purdue
8 PM ET, ESPN
Tennessee poses similar threats to Purdue that Arkansas did when the Boilermakers lost an exhibition to the Razorbacks back in October. Like previously mentioned, Dalton Knecht and Jordan Gainey pose threats offensively, Purdue has not seen yet this season. Purdue must continue to rely on Zach Edey, even against Tennessee’s talented front line.
Projected Score: Tennessee 75, Purdue 70

1.Kansas vs. 4.Marquette
10:30 PM ET, ESPN
In what will be a great game, Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris will help Kansas outlast Tyler Kolek and Marquette.
Projected Score: Kansas 82, Marquette 81

Third Place Game
2.Purdue vs. 4.Marquette
Purdue will rebound and give Marquette their second consecutive loss led by Zach Edey and Braden Smith.
2:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Purdue 78, Marquette 76

Final
1.Kansas vs. 7.Tennessee
In what would be a rematch of the 2022 Battle 4 Atlantis final, Tennessee would upset Kansas again headed by a great performance by veteran guard Santiago Vescovi.
5 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Tennessee 77, Kansas 73

Battle 4 Atlantis (Paradise Island, BS)
November 22-24
Teams Participating: Arkansas, Memphis, Michigan, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Stanford, Stanford, Texas Tech, Villanova

Quarterfinals
20.North Carolina (3-0) vs. Northern Iowa (1-1)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: North Carolina 76, Northern Iowa 65

Texas Tech (3-0) vs. 21.Villanova (3-1)
2:30 PM ET, ESPN/2
Projected Score: Villanova 76, Texas Tech 73

Memphis (3-0) vs. Michigan (3-1)
5 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Michigan 82, Memphis 78

14.Arkansas (2-1) vs. Stanford (3-1)
7:30 PM ET, ESPNU
Projected Score: Arkansas 80, Stanford 72

Semifinals
20.North Carolina vs. 21.Villanova
12 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: North Carolina 85, Villanova 79

14.Arkansas vs. Michigan
2:30 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Arkansas 79, Michigan 75

Third Place Game
21.Villanova vs. Michigan
1 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Michigan 80, Villanova 76

Final
14.Arkansas vs. 20.North Carolina
3:30 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Arkansas 78, North Carolina 75

ESPN Events Invitational (Kissimmee, FL)
November 23, 24, 26
Teams Participating: Boise State, Butler, Florida Atlantic, Iowa State, Penn State, Texas A&M, VCU, Virginia Tech

Quarterfinals
Penn State (4-0) vs. 13.Texas A&M (4-0)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Texas A&M 77, Penn State 60

Butler (3-1) vs. 10.Florida Atlantic (3-0)
2:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Florida Atlantic 78, Butler 65

Iowa State (4-0) vs. VCU (3-1)
5:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Iowa State 68, VCU 64

Boise State (3-0) vs. Virginia Tech (3-1)
8 PM ET, ESPN/2
Projected Score: Virginia Tech 69, Boise State 68

Semifinals
13.Texas A&M vs. 10.Florida Atlantic
11 AM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Texas A&M 75, Florida Atlantic 68

Virginia Tech vs. Iowa State
5:30 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Iowa State 74, Virginia Tech 68

Third Place Game
10.Florida Atlantic vs. Virginia Tech
6 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Florida Atlantic 82, Virginia Tech 70

Final
13.Texas A&M vs. Iowa State
1 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Texas A&M 75, Iowa State 68

Emerald Coast Classic (Niceville, FL)
November 24-25
Teams Participating: Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Santa Clara

Semifinals
22.Alabama (4-0) vs. Ohio State (3-1)
7 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Alabama 77, Ohio State 70

Oregon (4-0) vs. Santa Clara (4-0)
9:30 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Oregon 72, Santa Clara 68

Third Place Game
Ohio State vs. Santa Clara
4 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Santa Clara 78, Ohio State 74

Final
Alabama vs. Oregon
7 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Alabama 79, Oregon 72

Single Games

November 23
18.Michigan State (2-2) vs. 3.Arizona (4-0) (Palm Springs; Acrisure Classic)
4 PM ET, FOX
Projected Score: Arizona 84, Michigan State 78