Ball State made its mark a year ago this week. Beating UCLA and Kansas in Maui to get plenty of publicity, which lasted all season, until the Cardinals flopped in the MAC.

And missed the NCAAs.

So, was the Maui experience worth it? Certainly. Ball State coach Tim Buckley said throughout the year and offseason that the wins gave the program even more credibility and kept the Cardinals in the NCAA conversation for the entire season.

Wins like those Ball State picked up a year ago over high-profile teams, which usually only happen on neutral courts, are a testament as to why coaches (especially mid to low-major coaches) want exempted tournaments to remain. Having a forum to experiment with rules like an expanded 3-point line and a wider lane are good for the game, but getting a shot to take down the big boys is immeasurable.

This is a week that can make a team, give it shelf life for the entire season, but it won't break any of them. Losing two or, even three games, in Maui, New York or Anchorage, doesn't mean this season is over. Hardly. But it can create a hole that can make every other non-conference loss even more troubling.

Maui Invitational

	Blake Stepp's shot was off in the Zags' opener.

Favorites: Gonzaga and Kentucky
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start with a tight game at home against Hofstra on Friday night. But Gonzaga still should be one of the best interior teams in this field, and if Blake Stepp can knock down shots, the Zags will be tough to stop.

Kentucky hasn't found its rhythm in the preseason and is playing without point guard Cliff Hawkins this semester. The Wildcats, however, still have scorers in Keith Bogans and Antwain Barbour. But Kentucky easily has the toughest road to the title by dodging upset-special Arizona State first and then likely Virginia.

Contenders: Indiana and Virginia
Indiana has the deepest and perhaps most talented perimeter in the Big Ten with Tom Coverdale and freshman Bracey Wright as the Hoosiers' most dangerous scorers. Indiana's chances will lie in this tournament, like they will all season, with Jeff Newton. If he can be a Jared Jeffries-type scorer (not so much give similar production, but rather similar style facing the basket) the Hoosiers have a shot to win the tourney.

Virginia struggled in its opener to beat Long Island. But Rutgers transfer Todd Billett scored 20 points in his debut, giving the Cavs hope that they can replace Roger Mason Jr.'s scoring. Forward Travis Watson is still the equalizer for this team, giving them balance to compete with anyone in the field.

Sleepers: Utah and Arizona State
The Utes have the talent and the coaching to get past any of these teams, but they might not be ready for prime time just yet. Utah is still trying to mesh in a new point guard, post man and get used to having Britton Johnsen as the go-to player. If the Utes can get out of this tourney with two wins, they'll be flying home pleased.

Arizona State was the perfect upset special before Curtis Millage was deemed ineligible. His absence robs the Sun Devils of one of their best scorers, even though Donnell Knight picked up some of the slack with 15 points in the win over Morehead State.

Thanks for the invitations: Chaminade and Massachusetts
The upset 20 years ago for Chaminade will be celebrated, but probably will fade by Monday's tip. If Chaminade pulls off another shocker, Virginia may never want to come back.

Massachusetts is a potential sleeper in the A-10, but it's doubtful the Minutemen are ready for this type of field just yet. Jackie Rogers has to get into his groove inside before he can be a dominant player in the league and doing that against the likes of Indiana, and then Utah or Gonzaga, will be a tough chore.

Preseason NIT
Favorite: Kansas
The Jayhawks answered some key questions in the first week. Kansas got some valuable minutes off the bench from forwards Bryant Nash and Moulaye Niang, as well as a few minutes from oversized power forward Jeff Graves. The Jayhawks are running like they normally do and the starting five hasn't missed a beat. Getting to New York was a given and Roy Williams is 14-0 in the Preseason NIT, which would constitute favorite status.

	Walsh brings his 23 ppg to the Garden on Wednesday night.

Contender: Florida
Florida wasn't sure if its freshmen were ready to contribute this early in the season, especially with injuries to Brett Nelson, Bonell Colas and freshman Christian Drejer. But that has been a moot point. The freshmen have been sensational with Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson scoring with ease. The Gators are further ahead than they probably thought, considering they have only eight players.

Sleeper: North Carolina
The Tar Heels escaped with a home win over Rutgers in round two, got a quality road win to open Old Dominion's new building Sunday night. The Tar Heels aren't showing any fear so far and have absolutely nothing to lose going into the Garden Wednesday night. They aren't the favorite and any win they get this week is gravy. That makes UNC even more dangerous.

Thanks for the invitation: Stanford
The Cardinal is the uninvited guest this week. This was supposed to be Xavier, even though the Preseason NIT shipped the Musketeers West for round two. Stanford would have to get through Florida and likely Kansas to win the Preseason NIT -- and if it does, the Cardinal are better than anyone on either coast could imagine. Winning their first three games -- Sunday night over Rice was the third -- is quite an accomplishment for a team that looked like it would struggle to start the season.

Great Alaska Shootout
Favorites: Michigan State and Wyoming
The Spartans got the necessary go-to scoring from Chris Hill in their opener, as he begins to assert himself as the team's leader. Michigan State beat UNC Asheville handily, and is getting back to its rugged style of boards and defense first, looking to score and run second.

Wyoming got a double-double from Uche Nsonwu-Amadi in the win over Denver and the Cowboys are as talented a group as Steve McClain has ever put on the floor. Falling short of the title game in Anchorage would be deemed a disappointment.

Contenders: Villanova and Oklahoma State
The Wildcats rebounded from the disappointing loss to Marquette in the Coaches vs. Cancer by crushing Drexel at home. Jason Fraser, Allen Ray and Randy Foye form one of the best freshmen classes in the country. Playing the Marquette game should be a good primer for Villanova in advance of this tourney.

No one seems to be talking about the Cowboys and that will be a mistake -- sooner or later. Oklahoma State had a bit of a tussle with Yale, but that's understandable. Melvin Sanders is scoring in double figures and the Cowboys should be once again a tough team to score on as well as board against.

Sleepers: College of Charleston and Alaska-Anchorage
Tom Herrion should have Charleston playing as hard and with the same passion as he tried to instill on Pete Gillen's staff at Virginia. Charleston gets Wyoming first, and the Cowboys could be thinking too much about Michigan State. If that happens, Charleston would play the winner of Oklahoma State-Anchorage, which could suddenly mean title game. OK, so we're a bit ahead of ourselves, but it's not a total stretch.

Anchorage could do the same thing -- on its homecourt. Look at rival Fairbanks, the Nanooks were in the Top of the World Championship game Sunday night against Weber State. So, why can't the Seawolves do the same?

Thanks for the invitations: Montana and Loyola Marymount
Montana lost to Northern Iowa to open the season, while the Grizz under Pat Kennedy drew Michigan State in the opener. That's too tough an opening act to get past in round one. Getting one victory in this tournament would be a step forward. The same is true for Loyola Marymount, which drew Villanova in the first round and would get Michigan State in round two if the Lions somehow pulled off the upset.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.