Nov. 12, 2008 — From its beginnings in the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School gym with a slate of Division II women's basketball teams to a 2008 roster featuring the No. 2-ranked University of Connecticut Huskies, the annual Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament has turned into one of the best competitions in the nation, which fans will now be able to watch on television.
FOX — not Fox College Sports, or some deal where you have to have a satellite to see it like the National Football League — will broadcast the men's championship games on Nov. 24 at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. The community is encouraged to come out in face paint, bearing signs in support of their favorite teams, said Nels Hawkinson, executive director of tournament sponsor Basketball Travelers.
"It's always nice when you go to something live instead of watching on television, because you can only really see what the camera shows you," he said. "Plus, in most of the games we've had, the scores are close, and being in a close game and seeing somebody drill a shot at the last second is tremendous. Adding on, this year we're on national television for the very first time, not just in the U.S., but on FOX international, so it's going to be in millions and millions of homes. So dress up, paint your face and make signs, because mom and dad will be watching."
This year's men's field is stacked with talent, from UConn to Wisconsin and Miami universities to other exciting teams such as Southern Mississippi, San Diego, Valparaiso, La Salle and Iona. The favorite would have to be the Huskies, anchored by their 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet — who swatted 147 balls in only 33 games last season — and leading scorer, forward Jeff Adrien.
One thing to note: San Diego knocked the Huskies out of last year's NCAA Tournament.
"You're going to see more athletic guys out there, you're going to see more slam dunks, you're going to see more blocked shots than ever before," Hawkinson said about this year's men's field. "A game that you would normally see on TV that you couldn't get a ticket for, you'll see here. At a UConn game, for example, you might have to pay $500 for a seat, but for $15, you can see them play here. If that isn't a good reason to come out, I don't know what is."
Games kick off at 2 p.m. Nov. 21, with Miami taking on Southern Mississippi in the men's division, followed by Valparaiso vs. San Diego at 4:30 p.m., UConn vs. La Salle at 7 p.m. and Wisconsin vs. Iona at 9:30 p.m. The men's games will run until Monday, where the championship will be settled at 9:30 p.m.
The women's bracket might not be as exciting as last year's dream card — having powerhouses such as Stanford, Connecticut and Duke — but it's nothing to sleep on. Baylor, California and Iowa all participated in last year's NCAA Tournament, with Baylor and California making it to the second round. Rounding out the card is Texas Tech, Villanova, Wisconsin, South Florida and the University of Central Florida.
The women's tournament will be played in round-robin format and will be divided into two brackets: the Island Division with Villanova, UCF, Wisconsin and Baylor, and the Reef Division with Texas Tech, California, USF and Iowa.
Games begin at 2 p.m. Nov. 27, with Wisconsin taking on Villanova in the Island Division, followed by Baylor and Central Florida at 4:30 p.m. The Reef Division kicks off at 7 p.m, with Iowa and Texas Tech, followed by California playing South Florida. Remaining games are as follows:
Friday, Nov. 28
Island Division: Central Florida vs. Wisconsin at 2 p.m., followed by Villanova and Baylor at 4:30 p.m.
Reef Division: South Florida vs. Iowa at 7 p.m., followed by Texas Tech and California at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Island Division: Villanova vs. Central Florida at 2 p.m., followed by Baylor and Wisconsin at 4:30 p.m.
Reef Division: Texas Tech vs. South Florida at 7 p.m., followed by Iowa and California at 9:30 p.m.
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