BRACKETS ANNOUNCED FOR 2005 WOMEN’S PARADISE JAM
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Eight Division I women’s basketball teams will take their game to the U.S. Virgin Islands to compete in the sixth annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam basketball tournament at University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas from Nov. 24-26, 2005. With names such as Tennessee, Michigan State, Minnesota, Virginia, Maryland, Gonzaga, Alabama and Nevada, the tournament’s reputation for intense competition will only be strengthened.

Since its inception six years ago, the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam has been one of the premiere early season collegiate basketball tournaments in the nation. Tournament champions have never failed to earn berths to the NCAA post-season tournament, with several teams making it as far as the Final Four. The 2005 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam proves once again to be full of talent and competition.

Ironically, four teams who met in the NCAA tournament have an opportunity to meet again in St. Thomas to replay the drama of March Madness. Tennessee will have a chance to avenge their NCAA championship semi-final loss in April to Michigan State when they meet the Spartans in the opening round of the Paradise Jam “St. John” division. Virginia and Minnesota could meet in the championship of the “St. Thomas” division, which would be a replay of the 2nd round of NCAA tournament play when Minnesota defeated the Cavaliers, 73-58.

The Paradise Jam consists of two separate 4-team tournaments. One is a Multiple Team Event (MTE) three-game round-robin event called the "St. John" division and the other a two-game Counting event called the "St. Thomas" division. An MTE tournament counts as only two Counting games against a team’s annual maximum of 29 games, despite playing up to three games at the tournament. Counting tournaments carry no restrictions as all games count against a team’s schedule.

The “St. John” division will host one of the most impressive brackets that the Paradise Jam has ever seen. Michigan State, Tennessee and Maryland each participated in last year’s NCAA tournament, with the Spartans and the Lady Vols both advancing all the way to the Final Four. Gonzaga, a team looking for redemption after missing an NCAA berth despite a 28-4 record last year, rounds out a bracket sure to showcase intense early-season competition. Fox College Sports also seems to think the bracket is worthy of nationwide attention. They plan to broadcast both first round games on Thanksgiving Day, pitting Tennessee vs. Michigan State and Maryland vs. Gonzaga.

Michigan State University completed their best season in school history last year, finishing with a 33-4 record and competing in their first-ever national championship. Seniors Lindsay Bowen and Liz Shimek, who both accepted invitations to the USA Women’s Basketball national team trials, will lead the Spartans this season. Bowen, a 5-7 guard who was named to the all-tournament team at the Final Four, averaged 13.8 points per game and dished out 103 assists on the year. Shimek, a 6-1 forward, led the team in both scoring and rebounding in the 2004-05 season with 14.8 ppg and 9.1 rpg. The University of Tennessee Lady Vols completed their season with a 30-5 record, losing in the NCAA championship semi-final game to Michigan State, who erased a 16-point 2nd half deficit to defeat the higher-ranked Lady Vols 68-64. Tennessee lost four seniors from the 2004-05 squad, but return a strong lineup led by 5-10 senior guard Shanna Zolman (12.5 ppg), 6-4 sophomore center Nicky Anosike (6.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg), who was invited to USA Basketball Women’s national team trials, and 5-11 sophomore guard Alexis Hornbuckle (8.6 ppg 5.4 rpg).

The University of Maryland Terrapins finished last season with a 22-10 record, reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Terps return four starters, including first team all-ACC player Shay Doron, a 5-9 junior guard who posted 17.6 points per game, and ACC Rookie of the Year Crystal Langhorne, a 6-3 sophomore center. Maryland also boasts the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the nation for the 2005-2006 season. The Gonzaga Bulldogs travel to the Paradise Jam after coming off a season that saw their first ever national ranking (#24 in AP) and the nation’s longest winning streak at 23 games. The Bulldogs finished the 2004-05 season with a 28-4 record and advanced to the second round of the NIT. Senior 6-0 forward Anne Bailey (9.9 ppg, 5 rpg) and 6-3 junior forward Stephanie Hawk (9.4 ppg, 5 rpg) will be looked to for leadership to replace three starting seniors from last year’s squad. Gonzaga Region 8 Coach of the Year, Kelly Graves, commented on participating in Paradise Jam 2005, “I am excited to see where our team will stack up against those more established programs.”

The two-game Counting "St. Thomas" division will also host some great competition with two of the four teams participating in post-season play in 2005. This division includes Minnesota, Virginia, Alabama, and Nevada. Should Minnesota and Virginia win their “St. Thomas” division first round games it would set up a replay of last year’s 2nd round NCAA tournament matchup. In 2004-05, Minnesota finished with a 26-8 record after reaching the Sweet Sixteen and losing to eventual national champion, Baylor. Losing only one senior (standout center Janel McCarville), the Golden Gophers return four strong starters. Jamie Broback, a 6-3 junior forward (14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), and Shannon Schonrock, a 5-6 senior guard (9.1 ppg), will be looked to for large contributions again this year. Fellow NCAA playoff participant, the University of Virginia, finished the season at 21-11, after their 2nd round loss to Minnesota. The Cavaliers lose four seniors from the 2004-05 season, including three starters. The two returning starters, Brenna McGuire, a 5-11 junior guard (6.3 ppg), and Sharnee Zoll, a 5-7 sophomore guard (6.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), will provide early leadership. Zoll was named as an ACC honorable mention All-Freshman honoree and was invited to USA Basketball Women’s national Team Trials.

Alabama and Nevada complete the “St. Thomas” division. Alabama travels to the islands with a new coach on board, Stephanie Smith, formerly from Middle Tennessee State. The Crimson Tide was 14-15 last year and lost three seniors. Returning starters Marverly Nettles, a 5-10 junior guard (4.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg), and senior Dee Merriweather, a 6-4 junior center, will be looked to for some early leadership. Nevada (8-22) will face some tough competition from the other teams in the “St. Thomas” division. Losing three seniors Nevada will continue to look to 6-1 sophomore forward Meghan McGuire for leadership. Meghan averaged 13.2 ppg and 3.9 rpg last season. In addition Nevada boasts two newcomers that are expected to contribute right away. Sabrina Keys, a 6-1 forward that transferred from Purdue and 6-5 transfer Evelina Janisyte should add depth and maturity to the team.

Despite perennially strong fields, Paradise Jam 2005 has the potential to be the most competitive collection of teams in the six year history of the Virgin Islands tournament. In the 2004 Paradise Jam, North Carolina State defeated Louisville 54-49 to claim the “St. Thomas” division championship, and Rutgers won the “St. John” division crown. Both 2004 Paradise Jam champions earned berths in the NCAA playoffs last year, with Rutgers advancing all the way to the Elite Eight. The tournament is played at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center, the Caribbean’s finest basketball facility and just a stone’s throw from the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.