Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament Tips Off Friday At UVI; UVI Bucs Ro Spar Against BVI National Team Saturday

The University of the Virgin Islands will host the 2015 Paradise Jam beginning Friday, Nov. 20, in the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas Campus, a press release the institution of higher learning issued today makes known.

The highly anticipated NCAA Division I Basketball pre-season tournament tips off at 2 p.m. with the men’s games when Ohio University’s Ohio Bobcats go up against the University of Tulsa’s Tulsa Golden Hurricanes. This year’s teams also include DePaul University, Florida State University, Hofstra University, Indiana State University, Norfolk State University, and University of South Carolina. The championship men’s game is scheduled for 10 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23.

The action in the women’s tournament starts on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, and continues to Nov. 28. There are two divisions of women’s play. In the tourney’s “Island Division” are Rutgers State University, Tulane University, University of Wisconsin and University of Virginia. Teams playing in the “Reef Division” are the University of Maryland, Old Dominion University, the University of Pittsburgh and South Dakota State University. 

This year UVI’s Sports and Fitness Center, which has hosted the tournament for more than 15 years, will now feature a new floor for the 2015 Paradise Jam.  The new flooring features both the UVI and Paradise Jam brand.

Nels Hawkinson, executive director of Basketball Travelers Inc., said that tournament’s platinum and gold sponsors will have the opportunity to hang out in the beach zone. Now in its second year, the beach zone will feature hammocks, live palm trees, beach chairs, beach balls and a kiddy pool. Roving Sports Reporter Monyka Johnigan will take time between the action to conduct interviews on the sidelines. Hawkinson said that he hopes to continue to attract the attention of CBS Sports viewers and spark the interest of people to visit the Virgin Islands. 

Watch on CBS Sports News and Web Simulcast

CBS Sports Network will televise the men’s first round and semi-final games on Nov. 20.  and 22, along with the third-place and championship games on Nov. 23. Basketball Travelers Inc. will live stream all games worldwide on www.paradisejam.com;however games aired on CBS Sports Network will only be available onwww.paradisejam.com outside of the United States.

Men’s Basketball Live Broadcast Schedule

Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. – Ohio vs. Tulsa – ParadiseJam.com via The Global Video Network
Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m. – Hofstra vs. Florida St. – CBS Sports Network 
Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. – DePaul vs. South Carolina – CBS Sports Network

Nov. 20 at 9:30 p.m. – Indiana St. vs. Norfolk St.  – ParadiseJam.com via The Global Video Network
Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2  – ParadiseJam.com via The Global Video Network

Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. – Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4  – ParadiseJam.com via The Global Video Network
Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – CBS Sports Network 
Nov. 22 at 10 p.m. – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – CBS Sports Network

Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. – 7^th and 8^th Place – ParadiseJam.com via The Global Video Network

Nov. 23 at 5:00 p.m. – 4^th and 6^th Place – ParadiseJam.com via The Global Video Network

Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. – Consolation (3^rd place/5^th place) Game – CBS Sports Network
Nov. 23 at 10 p.m. – Championship Game – CBS Sports Network

The site also has details on the men’s and women’s brackets and video from the 2015 press conference. The tournament’s broadcasts will also include features on UVIDEA Club’s New Innovation Center at the University and UVI’s Hospitality and Tourism Program. UVI supporters are encouraged to share their Paradise Jam experiences on UVI’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/uvi.edu and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UVI_edu  and follow the handle @UVI_edu.

UVI Men’s Bucs Basketball to Play on Saturday

Fans of UVI’s Bucs basketball get their traditional, pre-season peek at the team in action during the men’s round of this year’s Paradise Jam, in a game at the Sports and Fitness Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21. The Bucs will host the British Virgin Islands National Team in the day’s third game. 

UVI’s Bucs men’s squad lost a close-fought battle in the final minutes in 2013 in their traditional Paradise Jam matchup with Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria (LAI) rivals Metropolitan University (UMET). The Bucs 82-78 loss to UMET also snapped their four-game Paradise Jam winning streak.

In 2012, the Bucs defeated Metropolitan University 62-57, before an enthusiastic home crowd. UVI fans are asked to wear blue and white – the school’s colors – to show their support. UVI Alumni and fans who cannot attend the game are encouraged to watch the live stream on www.paradisejam.com.

Paradise Jam tickets are available at the UVI Bookstore and at the door. For more information visit www.paradisejam.com.