ROCK HILL, SC—For the third time in seven years, the Winthrop men's basketball team will participate in The U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, Nov. 18-21.
Tournament officials have released the 2011 men's basketball tournament field and bracket for the eight NCAA division I men's basketball teams participating in the 12th annual event. In addition to Winthrop, the field includes Marquette, Mississippi, Virginia, Drexel, Drake, TCU and Norfolk State . The tournament is held annually at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas, USVI and is one of the most competitive, neutral-court, early-season tournaments in America.
Winthrop is the first team invited for three appearances in the Paradise Jam. The Eagles finished third in the 2004 event and then advanced to the championship game in 2007 before losing to Baylor. Winthrop defeated Georgia Tech that year in the semi-finals. Both previous appearances eventually led to Big South Conference championship seasons for the Eagles and NCAA tournament berths.
For the first time in 2011, the Paradise Jam will kick off with two opening round games on the mainland. Winthrop will be one of the four teams involved as it will travel to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. In the first game Marquette will host Norfolk State on Nov. 14 in Milwaukee.
Winthrop's first opponent in St. Thomas will be Marquette. That game is scheduled for Nov. 18 beginning at 8:30 p.m. EDT. All eight participating schools are guaranteed three games in The Virgin Islands over a four-day period.
“We are very excited to be going back to the Paradise Jam,” said Winthrop head coach Randy Peele. “This is a big-time event with a big-time tournament field. We have enjoyed a strong following of supporters in our two previous trips to The Virgin Islands and I hope our fans can plan to make the trip in November. Our teams have had great success in our two earlier trips to the Paradise Jam and that helped prepare us for two very successful seasons.”
Paradise Jam fan packages with cost options will be available soon. Winthrop fans will be able to find out more details by visiting
www.winthropeagles.com. The host hotel is the Frenchman Reef & Morning Star Marriot Beach Resort.
Two of this year's tournament entrants, Marquette and Mississippi, earned berths to post season tournaments in March. Winthrop's first round opponent, Marquette, is the only tournament participant to reach the 2011 NCAA tournament as the Golden Eagles advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to North Carolina. Mississippi was invited to participate in the NIT. The Rebels fell to California in the first round.
