In what is being hailed as one of the most stacked early-season multi-team events ever, the Maui Invitational is set to showcase some intense matchups that could easily be mistaken for Final Four games. Feast Week is reaching its pinnacle as No. 2 Purdue takes on No. 7 Tennessee in the first matchup, followed by a clash between No. 1 Kansas and No. 4 Marquette.

The spotlight is on Purdue's backcourt as they face the significant challenge posed by Tennessee. Last year, Purdue's all-freshman backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer struggled against heavy ball-pressure defenses, leading to their infamous first-round tournament loss to FDU with 15 turnovers. However, the hope for Purdue is that the added experience and maturity of their backcourt this year will result in fewer turnovers. Unfortunately, their game against Gonzaga on Monday night did not reflect this progress, with Purdue committing 13 turnovers to only 11 assists. This raises concerns as they face Tennessee, known for their ball-pressure defense.

Tennessee's defense is formidable, especially their elite perimeter defense combined with the skills of starting center Jonas Aidoo, who is one of the best post-up defenders in the nation. The key to defeating Purdue lies in defending Edey and forcing Purdue's perimeter players, known as the "Edeyettes," to beat them from outside. Tennessee has the formula to knock off Purdue, but there are doubts about their offense. Head coach Rick Barnes has never been known for his offensive prowess, and although the Vols rank 30th nationally in offensive efficiency, their impressive 3-point shooting may not be sustainable throughout the season. Dalton Knecht, a transfer from Northern Colorado, has significantly improved Tennessee's offense, but his recent “cramping” issues during the win over Syracuse could be a concern for their back-to-back matchup.

Given the potential offensive struggles for both teams, a lower-scoring game is anticipated. The under at 133.5 seems like a reasonable bet.

Moving on to the second game at the Maui Invitational, it features an exciting matchup between No. 2 Purdue and No. 11 Gonzaga. Purdue, currently on a 3-0 winning streak, has become a 4.5-point favorite in this contest, following their recent 83-71 victory over Xavier where they failed to cover as 17-point favorites.

Gonzaga, on the other hand, has started the season strong with convincing wins over Yale and Eastern Oregon. The Bulldogs are led by redshirt freshman Braden Huff, who averages 21 points per game, and Wyoming transfer Graham Ike, who contributes 18 points per game. These two powerhouses met last season in Portland, Oregon, where Purdue dominated Gonzaga with an 84-66 victory. Zach Edey, who went on to win National Player of the Year, played a crucial role in Purdue's success, scoring 23 points. Gonzaga, despite being listed as underdogs three times last season, failed to cover each time by a margin of eight points or more. The last time they covered as underdogs was in 2019 against Arizona. It is worth noting that Purdue has extra motivation this season following their shocking first-round loss to FDU in the NCAA Tournament. With the line moving in favor of Purdue, it seems like a safe bet to take them with the points against Gonzaga at the Maui Invitational.