The Maui Invitational, which has taken place every year since 1984, is one of the best traditions in college basketball. The eight-team tournament typically takes place in the intimate Lahaina Civic Center. However, following Hawaii's devastating wildfires in August, the tournament will be hosted by Honolulu's Stan Sheriff Center.

Many powerhouse programs have made the trip to the sunny and dreamy setting of Hawaii to participate in the annual tradition. Arizona, Texas, Kansas, and Gonzaga are some of the notable winners over the last five years. Last season's Maui had two teams who appeared in the Elite Eight -- Creighton and San Diego State.

The 2023 edition of the Maui Invitational could be one of the best fields yet; 5 of KenPom's preseason top 12 are participating in the tournament. Three of KenPom's preseason top five will also be on show. This should be one of the most loaded Maui Invitational fields yet, which makes the tournament an intriguing wager.

Let's check out the bracket and FanDuel Sportsbook's college basketball odds for the 2023 Maui Invitational, capped by a breakdown of teams to watch.

Maui Invitational Bracket

Maui Invitational Odds

Kansas Favored to Win Fourth Maui Title

The Kansas Jayhawks are the favorite to win the Maui Tournament. This would be their fourth Maui title as they won it in 1996, 2015, and 2019.

According to FanDuel's college basketball national championship odds, Kansas is tied for the shortest odds to win the NCAA Tournament (+1100). The Jayhawks return 46.6% of their minutes, per Bart Torvik, but they still have plenty of experience.

Kansas is replacing their top two scorers from last season -- Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick. The Jayhawks return three starters with Dajuan Harris Jr., Kevin McCullar Jr., and K.J. Adams Jr. Additionally, they landed 247 Sports' top transfer in Hunter Dickinson, who was a three-year starter at Michigan and averaged at least 18.0 points per game (PPG) and 8.0 rebounds per game (RPG) over his last two seasons.

This should be one of the nation's strongest starting fives, and Kansas projects to have Bart Torvik's fourth-best offense and defense. Will the Jayhawks show out in the Maui?

Tennessee, Purdue Tabbed as Top Three Choices

This is where the odds get interesting. The Purdue Boilermakers are co-favorites with Kansas and Duke to win the national title (+1100), yet they have the third-shortest odds to win the Maui Invitational.

The Tennessee Volunteers are slightly ahead of the Boilermakers (+320 vs. +340). Purdue holds the top spot in KenPom and Bart Torvik's preseason rankings. How can the Volunteers be ahead?

This could be due to Tennessee's defense, which will likely be among the nation's best. The unit finished first in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency last season and projects as Bart Torvik's best defense for the 2023-24 season. Purdue ranked 93rd in adjusted defensive rating a season ago; this could be a problem once again.

The Boilermakers boast perhaps the top player in the Maui with Zach Edey. If Purdue is to come out on top, they could need big performances from their three-point shooters and backcourt.

Tennessee, on the other hand, will likely look to dominate on the defensive end. Plus, the Volunteers have some reliable scorers in Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Zeigler, and Josiah-Jordan James, who all averaged double digits last season.

Usually, the top three options in the Maui Invitational would be the only sound bets. But with this year's loaded field, even the teams with the fourth and fifth-shortest odds to win the tournament have great chances.

Marquette, Gonzaga Round Out the Top Five

The odds may suggest the Marquette Golden Eagles (+500) and Gonzaga Bulldogs (+950) are long shots to win the Maui. They still seem like reasonable bets with the Bulldogs ranked 5th in KenPom while the Golden Eagles are 11th.

Gonzaga, in particular, could be an interesting wager. They only return 34.8% of their minutes from last season. Replacing Drew Timme, who averaged over 18.0 PPG in the last three seasons, will be the Bulldogs' biggest challenge. They feasted in the transfer portal, though.

Ryan Nembhard, who averaged 12.1 PPG and 4.8 assists per game (APG) last season, was 247 Sports' ninth-best transfer available. Graham Ike -- the former Wyoming Cowboy -- was the sixth-best center available. He missed the 2022-23 season due to a leg injury. Ike will be looking to tap into his 2021-22 campaign when he averaged 19.5 PPG and 9.6 RPG.

The potential is certainly there for the Bulldogs, but how quickly can they get the ball rolling?

Marquette is a known commodity with 84.7% of their minutes returning, and they feature one of the nation's best backcourts led by Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones.

Outside of the top five betting favorites to win the Maui Invitational, there's a sharp drop-off.

Others

As always, Chaminade -- the Division 2 school -- will participate in the tournament. The Silverswords could be in store for a brutal tournament due to the strong group of squads.

The UCLA Bruins and Syracuse Orange are more recognizable brands in the tournament. However, the Bruins are returning only 26.1% of their minutes, and the Orange are replacing Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim.

The 2023 Maui Invitational should be a treat with 5 of KenPom's preseason top 12 duking it out. Will the national title favorites Kansas or Purdue come out on top, or will another potential contender earn respect by taking the crown?

Looking for more college basketball betting opportunities? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook to check out all of the upcoming college basketball odds.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.