[GoMarquette.com] MU To Face Colgate In Home Opener On Nov. 11

[strotty]

Consider MU vs. Colgate an "exhibition" game within the Maui Invitational.  It is part of the tournament, but it isn't part of the bracket.

A la Norfolk St. last year.

EDIT: Whoops, someone said that already.

[Jay Bee]

It goes something like this... teams are only allowed X non-conference games per year... a tournament doesn't count towards that limit.  Having a "mainland" game before the "island" games (as part of the same tournament) therefore allows both MU and Colgate one extra non-con game.

There isn't a specific max on non-conference games.. that figure just falls out.

For at least the past several years, the max has been on regular season games - 29 OR 27 + a qualifying event.  A qualifying event can be no more than four games... and must not span a range of more than 14 days.  That can be bracket play, designated match ups or a combination.  A bit stupid, but that's the deal. 

With many tourneys having 8-team bracket play, the 'extra' game between two of the schools (or another school "included" in the event, but not in bracket play) allows a school to play 31 regular season games instead of 30.