Journal Sports Writer
Providence College will be forced to trade a tropical paradise for a southern mountain range in its marquee men’s basketball nonconference event this upcoming season.
The Maui Invitational will shift from Hawaii to western North Carolina. Tournament officials made the announcement in a Friday afternoon release.
The Friars are among a heavyweight field that now includes a pair of in-state opponents. Providence is joined by the Tar Heels, Davidson, Alabama, Indiana, Stanford, Texas and UNLV. Event dates have yet to be finalized.
“We couldn’t be more excited and deeply honored to bring the Maui Jim Maui Invitational here to Asheville,” said Demp Bradford, president of the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, in a statement.