Aug. 12, 2004
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In a re-match of an early season game a year ago, Iowa will meet Louisville in the first round of the 2004 EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Hawkeyes and Cardinals will meet at 4 p.m. CT Monday, Nov. 22, with the game to be televised by ESPN2. The eight-team tournament continues on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 23-24. Iowa will meet either Texas or Chaminade, the host school, in the second round, playing at either 12:45 p.m. or 6 p.m. CT. The opposite side of the bracket includes Brigham Young meeting North Carolina and Stanford facing Tennessee in the first round. All seven visiting teams in the Maui field advanced to post-season play a year ago, with Louisville, Brigham Young, North Carolina, Stanford and Texas playing in the NCAA and Iowa and Tennessee playing in the NIT. “We knew we would face a very good team, and that’s what you get in an opponent such as Louisville,” said Iowa Coach Steve Alford. “You know with Coach Pitino you will face a well-coached team. They return almost everyone from a year ago. The entire three days will give us great experience against very good teams in a tournament setting.” Iowa defeated the Cardinals 70-69 in overtime early last season in the Wooden Tradition at Indianapolis. The Hawkeyes went on to post a 16-13 overall record while earning a fourth place finish in the Big Ten. Iowa returns three starters and six lettermen from the team that lost in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament a year ago. Following the loss to Iowa, Louisville won its next 16 games, rising to as high as fourth in both major polls. The Cardinals posted a 20-10 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Louisville returns three starters and 10 lettermen from a year ago. Iowa is making its third appearance in the Maui Invitational. The Hawkeyes placed seventh in 1996-97 on their last visit to the event after claiming the tournament championship early in the 1987-88 season. Louisville placed third at the 1989-90 event and sixth during the 2000-01 season. Remaining all-Day Tickets, as well as Booster Tickets for all eight schools, will go on sale August 17, 2004, at 1 p.m. CT via the official tournament web site at www.mauiinvitatiolan.com, or by calling (808) 667-DUNK. Iowa opens the season Friday, Nov. 19, hosting Western Illinois before departing for Hawaii.