15th Annual UVI ‘Paradise Jam’ Basketball Tourney Tips Off Friday

It’s that time of year again when all roads lead to the Virgin Islands for some of the best pre-season hoops action in the Caribbean. The University of the Virgin Islands will host the 15th Annual Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament at the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas Campus, beginning Friday, Nov. 21.

The popular NCAA Division I Basketball pre-season tournament tips off at 2:30 p.m. with the men’s games when Clemson University goes head-to-head with Gardner-Webb University. Other teams that will be participating in this year’s tournament include, Illinois State University, Louisiana State University, University of Nevada, Old Dominion University, Seton Hall University and Weber State University. The championship men’s game is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, marks the beginning of the women’s tournament, which will continue through Nov. 29. There are two divisions of women’s play this year. The “Island Division” is comprised of Clemson University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Ohio State University and Wichita State University. Teams playing in the “Reef Division” consist of Illinois University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Oklahoma and the University of South Florida.

UVI Interim Athletic Director Curtis Glipin said the UVI Sports and Fitness Center, where the tournament has been hosted for 14 of its 15 years, is ready for the 2014 games. He said this year the facility has undergone some upgrades, including a new look for the entrance.

Nels Hawkinson, executive director of Basketball Travelers Inc., an organization that arranges domestic and international basketball competitions, said this year the top seven sponsors viewing the event will be hosted in an exclusive “beach zone,” which will feature hammocks, live palm trees, beach chairs, beach balls and a kiddy pool. Hawkinson said the effort is to attract the attention of CBS Sports viewers, which could translate to expanded tourism in the Virgin Islands.

Watch on CBS Sports News and Web Simulcast

Basketball fans can tune in to CBS Sports Network, which will televise the men’s first round and semi-final games on Nov. 21 and 23, along with the third-place and championship games on Nov. 24. Basketball Travelers Inc. will live stream the games worldwide on www.paradisejam.com; however, games aired on CBS Sports Network will only be available on www.paradisejam.com outside the United States. The site also contains other useful information about the tournament, and broadcasts will include special features on the university’s Etelman Observatory and the Research and Technology Park on the Albert A. Sheen Campus.

Men’s Basketball Live Broadcast Schedule

Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m. – Clemson vs. Gardner-Webb – ParadiseJam.com
Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. – Seton Hall vs. Nevada – CBS Sports Network (on ParadiseJam.com outside the U.S. and Canada)
Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. – LSU vs. Old Dominion – CBS Sports Network (on ParadiseJam.com outside the U.S. and Canada)
Nov. 21 at 10 p.m.  – Illinois St. vs. Weber St. – ParadiseJam.com

Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m. – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – ParadiseJam.com
Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. – Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – ParadiseJam.com

Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – CBS Sports Network (on ParadiseJam.com outside the U.S. and Canada)
Nov. 23 at 10:30 p.m. – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – CBS Sports Network  (on ParadiseJam.com outside the U.S. and Canada)

Nov. 24 at 2:30 p.m. – 7th and 8th Place Game  – ParadiseJam.com
Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. – 4th and 6th Place Game  – ParadiseJam.com
Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. – Consolation (3rd place/5th place) Game – CBS Sports Network (on ParadiseJam.com outside the U.S. and Canada)
Nov. 24 at 10 p.m. – Championship Game – CBS Sports Network (on ParadiseJam.com outside the U.S. and Canada)

UVI Men’s Bucs Basketball to Play on Saturday

The UVI Bucs basketball will go up against a Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria (LAI) in the traditional preview men’s round of this year’s Paradise Jam, on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. The Bucs will host the University of Central Bayamon in the day’s third game, which will be available online via MDM. Inc.’s live stream at http://new.livestream.com/mdmvi.

The game will also be the first for UVI’s new head basketball coach, Myron Brown, who recently joined the program. Brown, a Detroit native, comes to UVI from St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla. He has held assistant and head coaching positions at a number of small colleges, including his alma mater, Rochester College in Michigan.  “We expect great things out of him and out of the program,” Glipin said.

UVI fans are asked to wear the school’s blue and white colors to show their support. UVI alumni and fans who cannot attend the game may watch the live stream on www.paradisejam.com.

Tickets

Paradise Jam tickets are available at the UVI Bookstore, Champs at the Tutu Park Mall and at the door. If purchasing at the door, tickets are $5 for children and students – ages 5 to 18 – including UVI students with proper ID; $10 for senior citizens 65 or older and military personnel; $15 for adult residents with local ID; and $35 for non-V.I. residents.

For more information, visit www.paradisejam.com.

Image Courtesy: STT Blog