2011 Paradise Jam Tournament

Paradise Jam Tournament
Teams	8 men's, 8 women's
Finals site	Sports and Fitness Center Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Paradise Jam Tournament

The 2011 Paradise Jam Tournament was a men and women's preseason college basketball tournament that took place in Saint Thomas at the Sports and Fitness Center. Marquette won the men's division while Alabama won the women's Island Division and Michigan won the women's Reef Division.

Men's Tournament

Marquette's Derrick Wilson drives against Norfolk State's Jamel Fuentes while Rashid Gaston trails at the 2011 Paradise Jam Tournament

Marquette had an easy path to the final game, then were tested. In the opening round, Marquette took on Winthrop, and won easily 95–73, while Norfolk State beat Drexel by five points, 61–56. In the semifinal round, Marquette again won easily, beating Ole Miss 96–66, while Norfolk State beat TCU 66–53 to set up the final. Marquette had played Norfolk State just a week earlier in Milwaukee, in a game that was never in doubt. Marquette opened up a 6–0 lead, expanded the lead to eleven by halftime, then scored 59 points in the second half to win the game 99–68.^[1]

When the two teams met in the Paradise Jam final, the game started out similarly to the early game, with Marquette never trailing, and reaching a nine-point lead at halftime. However, instead of scoring 59 points in the second half, they would score only 59 points in the game. The Golden Eagles, ranked 16th in the AP poll, held a 14-point lead at one time, but Norfolk State had two 7–0 runs and tied up the game at 57 points apiece with just over two minutes left. Marquette scored to take a lead; Norfolk State had a chance to tie in the closing seconds but failed to hit the basket, and Marquette won the 2011 Paradise Jam Championship 59–57.^[2][3]

Bracket

	First Round November 18					Semifinals November 20					Championship November 21
		Norfolk State	61
		Drexel	56
							Norfolk State	66
							TCU	53
		TCU	57
		Virginia	55
												Norfolk State	57
											16	Marquette	59
		Drake	59
		Ole Miss	63
							Ole Miss	66
						21	Marquette	96
		Winthrop	73
	21	Marquette	95

	3rd Place game November 21
		TCU	69
		Ole Miss	80

	Consolation 2nd Round November 19					5th Place Game November 21
		Drexel	35
		Virginia	49
							Virginia	60
							Drake	52
		Drake	66
		Winthrop	62

	7th Place game November 21
		Drexel	68
		Winthrop	45

Women's Tournament

Michigan team with championship trophy at the 2011 Paradise Jam Tournament

The woman's tournament is organized as two divisions of four teams, each playing each other in a round-robin format.

Participating Teams

Island Division^[4]

• Alabama
• Seton Hall
• Louisiana Tech
• Old Dominion

Reef Division

• Michigan
• Washington State
• Marquette
• Prairie View A&M

Overview

Island Division

Both Alabama and Seton Hall ended with records of 2–1. Based upon the tie breaker, Alabama beat Seton Hall in their match up, so was named the Paradise Jam Championship (Island Division)^[5] Alabama's Ericka Russell was named tournament MVP.^[4]

Reef Division

Michigan won all three of their games to capture the Paradise Jam Championship (Reef Division). Michigan's Courtney Boylan was named tournament MVP.^[4]

References

1. "Jae Crowder scores 25 points to help Marquette drub Norfolk St.". ESPN. Retrieved 26 Dec 2012.
2. "Marquette wins Paradise Jam title despite blowing 14-point lead". ESPN. Retrieved 26 Dec 2012.
3. "2011 Paradise Jam Bracket" (PDF). Basketball Travelers, Inc. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
4. "Tournament History & Statistics". Basketball Travelers, Inc. Retrieved 23 Dec 2012.
5. "2011 ISLAND DIVISION" (PDF). Basketball Travelers, Inc. Retrieved 23 Dec 2012.