As you know, we specialize in tournaments all over the world and we wanted to share with you the options for 2012-2013 and also the 2013-2014 season. Attached to this message is the rundown of all our events (excluding foreign tours), along with the teams already confirmed and the number of spots needed for each event.

These tournaments are an amazing chance to prepare for your conference season, and give your kids the opportunity of playing on a neutral site. Not to mention, two of our tourney’s are in the BEAUTIFUL Grand Bahamas Island and US Virgin Islands, where you can play in a top-notch tournament while enjoying the beach and sun in November.

If you have any interest or questions, please contact sara@basketballtravelers.com and we will get you set-up! Also, we will be having our annual scheduling party at the Final Four: Sunday- April 1st – Colorado Convention Center – 12:30 pm-2 pm. The material we use for our party will be based off the Basketball Travelers scheduling board (Basketball Travelers Schedule Board) , so make sure to update regularly.

Best of luck in the last half of your season, and we hope you finish strong!

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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.

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.

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.

Six of the tournament’s eight participants earned berths in the NCAA Tournament in March. Oklahoma, Rutgers, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, San Diego State and Texas each competed in the tournament, with Oklahoma advancing all the way to the Final Four before falling to Louisville. Rutgers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before succumbing to Purdue. Mississippi State and San Diego State both advanced to the second round before falling to Ohio State and Stanford, respectively. Notre Dame and Texas both lost in the first round of the tournament. Tournament-hardened teams such as these help to make the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam one of the most competitive, neutral-court, early-season tournaments in America.

Five teams of this year’s teams will make return visits to the islands, three of whom earned Paradise Jam championships. Rutgers will defend its 2004 crown; South Carolina claimed a 2002 championship and Texas won in 2001 with a narrow victory over fellow 2009 participant, Southern California. Mississippi State finished second in 2003. Rutgers will be the first women’s team to appear in three Paradise Jam tournaments, having also competed in the 2006 event.
The Paradise Jam consists of two separate tournament divisions. Each is a four-team, three-game round-robin event. One is called the “Island Division” tournament and the other is called the “Reef Division” tournament. Both are Multiple Team Event (MTE) tournaments. An MTE tournament counts as only two games against a team’s annual maximum of 29 games, despite playing three games at the tournament.

The Paradise Jam “Island Division” tournament includes Oklahoma, San Diego State and Notre Dame and South Carolina. Competition begins on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, at 2:00 PM with a matchup between South Carolina and Oklahoma, followed by the 4:30 PM game between San Diego State and Notre Dame. Games continue on November 27th with Notre Dame vs. South Carolina at 2:00 PM and Oklahoma vs. San Diego State at 4:30 PM. Competition concludes on November 28th at 2:00 PM with San Diego State vs. South Carolina followed at 4:30 PM by Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame.

The Paradise Jam “Reef Division” tournament participants are Rutgers, Mississippi State and Texas, and Southern California. Competition begins November 26th at 7:00 PM with Southern California playing Rutgers, followed by the 9:30 PM game with Mississippi State vs. Texas, a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament first round in which Mississippi State defeated Texas. Games continue on November 27th with Rutgers vs. Mississippi State at 7:00 PM and Texas vs. Southern California at 9:30 PM. The remaining match ups will conclude on November 28th at 7:00 PM with Southern California vs. Mississippi State and 9:30 PM with Texas vs. Rutgers.

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 2008 Paradise Jam action, Wisconsin came from behind to take the lead with seven seconds to play, upsetting sixth-ranked Baylor to claim the Island Division championship. Villanova finished ahead of Central Florida to earn third place in the division. In the Reef Division, second-ranked California cruised past Texas Tech, South Florida and Iowa to claim that division’s championship. South Florida defeated Iowa in overtime to earn 2nd place.

Freeport Gets New Indoor Basketball Court Thanks to the Basketball Travelers’ Junkanoo Jam Tournament and Grand Bahama Port Authority

SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 10, 2009 - Basketball Travelers, Inc. announced today the installation of a new basketball floor in Freeport, Grand Bahama Islands. Thanks in part to the generous support of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and in order to continue to grow on the success of the annual Junkanoo Jam basketball tournament, the installation commences this April 27th and is schedule to be completed May 1st at the Freeport YMCA.

Since 2003, Basketball Travelers, the Bahamas Department of Tourism, and the Bahamas Basketball Federation and its President Lawrence Hepburn have worked together to produce the Junkanoo Jam, one of the prestigious women’s events in NCAA DI college basketball.  When the YMCA sustained major hurricane damage, Basketball Travelers approached the YMCA with an idea to assist.

“We are excited to work with the Grand Bahama Port Authority to help give something back to the Bahamian community,” explained Junkanoo Jam tournament director Sean McShane. “The tournament continues to attract elite teams and this will be good for the future of the Junkanoo Jam as well as Bahamas basketball!”

The court, valued at approximately $40,000 is made with durable materials created by SportCourt.

A Press Conference is scheduled for Thursday, April 16th at 10 am at the site of the installation, the Freeport YMCA. 

The Junkanoo Jam attracts top teams and visitors to the island and runs two separate brackets each year. Past champions have included the University of North Carolina, Maryland, Penn State, Baylor, Iowa, Minnesota, Duke, and Florida. For more information on Basketball Travelers, go to Junkanoo Jam 

Contact:
Sean McShane
Junkanoo Jam Tournament Director
Basketball Travelers, Inc
425.776.2775 | 425.776.4094 FAX
Email: Sean McShane

Men’s: Team Overview  |  Bracket

Women’s: Team Overview  |  Island Div. Bracket  |  Reef Div. Bracket