2011 Paradise Jam

2011 Paradise Jam tournament

Season	2011–12
Teams	8
Finals site	Sports and Fitness Center Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Champions	Marquette (men's) Alabama (women's Island) Michigan (women's Reef)
MVP	Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette (men's) Ericka Russell, Alabama (women's Island) Courtney Boylan, Michigan(women's Reef)
Paradise Jam tournament « 2010 2012 »

The 2011 Paradise Jam was an early-season men's and women's college basketball tournament. The tournament, which began in 2000, was part of the 2011-12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season and 2011-12 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The tournament was played at the Sports and Fitness Center in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Marquette won the men's tournament, in the women's tournament 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 beat Winthrop easily 95–73, while Norfolk State beat Drexel by five points, 61–56. In the semifinals, 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 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 the Spartans 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 59–57. ^{[2] [3]}

Bracket

	5th Place Game November 21					Consolation 2nd Round November 20					First Round November 18					Semifinals November 20					Championship November 21
											Norfolk State		61
											Drexel		56
						Drexel		35								Norfolk State		66
						Virginia		49								TCU		53
											TCU		57
											Virginia		55
	Virginia		60																			Norfolk State	57
	Drake		52																		16	Marquette	59
											Drake		59
											Ole Miss		63
	7th Place Game					Drake		66									Ole Miss	66			3rd Place Game
						Winthrop		62								21	Marquette	96
	Drexel		68									Winthrop	71								TCU		69
	Winthrop		45								21	Marquette	91								Ole Miss		80

Women's tournament

Michigan women's basketball 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

Alabama and Seton Hall ended with records of 2–1. Alabama won the division by beating Seton Hall in their match up. ^[5] Alabama's Ericka Russell of Alabama was named Island MVP. ^[4]

Reef Division

Michigan won all three of their games to capture the (Reef Division) championship. Courtney Boylan of Michigan was named Reef MVP. ^[4]

References

1. "Jae Crowder scores 25 points to help Marquette drub Norfolk St". ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
2. "Marquette wins Paradise Jam title despite blowing 14-point lead". ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
3. "2011 Paradise Jam Bracket" (PDF). Basketball Travelers, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
4. "Tournament History & Statistics". Basketball Travelers, Inc. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
5. "2011 ISLAND DIVISION" (PDF). Basketball Travelers, Inc. Retrieved December 23, 2012.^{[ permanent dead link ]}