Men’s Field Announced for 2010 Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament

Seattle, Washington – The U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament directors released the 2010 men’s basketball tournament field and bracket today. The eight NCAA division I men’s basketball teams participating in the 11th annual event include Xavier, Alabama, Seton Hall, Clemson, Old Dominion, Iowa, Long Beach State and Saint Peter’s. The tournament is held annually in November at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas, USVI.

Three of this year’s tournament entrants, Xavier, Clemson and Old Dominion, earned berths to the NCAA tournament in March. Xavier advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to Kansas State in double overtime. Old Dominion advanced to the second round before falling to Baylor and Clemson lost in the first round. Although these three NCAA tournament-hardened squads bring high expectations to the islands this November, they will be hard-pressed by the other five teams also seeking early season success, making the Paradise Jam one of the most competitive, neutral-court, early-season tournaments in America. Fox College Sports and Fox Sports Net will broadcast at least four of the games nationally.

The 2010 tournament features more new coaches (three) than any previous field. Seton Hall will be led by new coach Kevin Willard, a Paradise Jam alumni who coached Iona in the 2008 Paradise Jam. Clemson will be guided by recently hired coach Brad Brownell, and Fran McCaffery took over the helm at Iowa.

The 2010 field also includes a record number five schools returning to the island for the Paradise Jam. Three teams and one coach will return from the 2006 field: Alabama (Champion), Xavier (Runner-up) and Iowa (5th Place). Anthony Grant, who led VCU to a 6th place finish in the 2006 Paradise Jam, will return as Alabama’s head coach. Old Dominion (2005) and Clemson (2001) both finished second in their respective brackets and return to St. Thomas to try for a championship in 2010.

The 2010 Paradise Jam will tip off November 19 with Saint Peter’s playing Old Dominion at 2:00 pm, followed by Long Beach State vs Clemson at 4:30 pm, Alabama vs. Seton Hall at 7:00 PM and Iowa battling Xavier at 9:30 PM. All game times are Atlantic Standard Time (one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time). Two games will be played daily on November 20 (losing teams from Nov. 19th) and two more on November 21st (winning teams from Nov. 19th). The games on November 20th will be at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM, followed at 9:30 PM by a local game pitting the University of the Virgin Islands against a university team from Puerto Rico. The winner’s bracket games on November 21st will be played at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. The final day of competition on November 22 will be structured similar to the first day, with game times set for 2:00 pm (7th & 8th place), 4:30 pm (4th & 6th place), and 7:00 pm (3rd & 5th place) with the championship game at 9:30 pm. All games will be played at the state-of-the-art University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

In 2009 Paradise Jam action, Purdue edged out Tennessee in the final seconds for the Paradise Jam championship. DePaul beat Saint Joseph’s to take third place, Northern Iowa defeated Boston College to capture fourth place, and South Dakota State edged East Carolina for 7th place.

Women’s Field Announced for 2010 Paradise Jam Island Division Basketball

Seattle, Washington – The U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament directors released the 2010 women’s Island Division basketball tournament field and brackets today. The four team NCAA division I women’s basketball teams participating in the 11th annual event include Iowa State, West Virginia, Virginia and TCU. The tournament is held annually in November at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas, USVI.

All four of the tournament’s participants earned berths in the NCAA Tournament in March, with Iowa State advancing to the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual national champion and 2007 Paradise Jam alumni, UConn. West Virginia succumbed in the second round to San Diego State. Virginia and TCU both lost in extremely close games in the first round. NCAA tournament-hardened teams such as these help to make the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Island Division one of the most competitive, neutral-court, early-season tournaments in America.

Three of this year’s Island Division teams make return visits to the islands. Virginia was the runner-up in the 2005 St. Thomas Division tournament; West Virginia placed 3rd in the 2003 St. John Division Tournament; and Iowa State placed third in the 2003 St. Thomas Division Tournament.

The Paradise Jam Island Division is a Multiple Team Event (MTE) tournament. An MTE tournament counts as only two games against a team’s annual maximum of 29 games, despite playing three games at the tournament.

Competition in the Island Division tournament begins on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, at 2:00 PM with a matchup between TCU and West Virginia, followed by the 4:15 PM game between Virginia and Iowa State. Games continue on November 26th with West Virginia vs. Virginia at 2:00 PM and Iowa State vs. TCU at 4:15 PM. Competition concludes on November 27th at 2:00 PM with Virginia vs. TCU followed at 4:15 PM by Iowa State vs. Virginia.

All game times are listed as Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Games will be played at the U.V.I. Sports and Fitness Center, the Caribbean’s premier basketball facility located in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. In 2009 Paradise Jam Island Division action, Notre Dame beat Oklahoma to claim the championship. Oklahoma won a rematch of the game to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. South Carolina finished ahead of San Diego State to earn third place in the event.

Men’s Field Announced for 2009 Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament

Seattle, Washington – The U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament directors released the 2009 men’s basketball tournament field and bracket today. The eight NCAA division I men’s basketball teams participating in the 10th annual event include Boston College, DePaul, East Carolina, Northern Iowa, Purdue, Saint Joseph’s, South Dakota State, and Tennessee. The tournament is held annually in November at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas, USVI.

Four of this year’s tournament entrants, Purdue, Tennessee, Boston College and Northern Iowa, earned berths to the NCAA tournament in March. Purdue advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to Connecticut, which won the 2008 Paradise Jam championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament’s Final Four. Tennessee, Boston College and Northern Iowa all lost in the first round. Additionally, former Paradise Jam tournament champion Boston College will be returning to islands to defend their 2003 tournament title. Although these four NCAA tournament-hardened squads bring high expectations to the islands this November, they will be hard-pressed by the other four teams also seeking early season success, making the Paradise Jam one of the most competitive, neutral-court, early-season tournaments in America.

The 2009 Paradise Jam will tip off November 20 with Northern Iowa playing DePaul at 2:00 pm, followed by Tennessee vs East Carolina at 4:30 pm, Boston College vs. Saint Joseph’s at 7:00 PM and South Dakota State battling Purdue at 9:30 PM. All game times are Atlantic Standard Time (one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time). Two games will be played daily on November 21 (losing teams from Nov. 20th) and November 22 (winning teams from Nov. 20th) at 7:00pm and 9:30pm. The final day of competition on November 23 will be structured similar to the first day, with game times set for 2:00 pm (7th & 8th place), 4:30 pm (4th & 6th place), and 7:00 pm (3rd & 5th place) with the championship game at 9:30 pm. All games will be played at the state-of-the-art University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

In 2008 Paradise Jam action, Connecticut defeated Wisconsin for the Paradise Jam championship. Miami (FL) beat San Diego to take third place, Southern Mississippi edged out Iona in the final seconds to capture fourth place, and La Salle edged Valparaiso for 7th place. At least four of the games will be broadcast nationally by Fox Sports.