2026 Paradise Jam
| Season | 2026–27 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams |
| ||||
| Finals site | Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center, Charlotte Amalie West, U.S. Virgin Islands | ||||
| |||||
The 2026 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam is an early-season men's and women's college basketball tournament. The tournament, which began in 2000, is part of the 2026–27 NCAA Division I men's basketball season and 2026–27 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The tournament will be played at the Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie West, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.[1]
Teams
Men's teams
| Team | Most Recent Appearance |
Best Finish |
|---|---|---|
| East Carolina[2] | 2009 | Seventh (2009) |
| Indiana State[3] | 2015 | Third (2015) |
| Middle Tennessee State | 2006 | Seventh (2006) |
| Southern Illinois[4] | 2021 | Fifth (2021) |
| Stephen F. Austin[5] | Initial | N/A |
| Temple | Initial | N/A |
| UT Martin | Initial | N/A |
| Utah Valley | Initial | N/A |
Women's teams
| Team | Most Recent Appearance |
Best Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | Initial | N/A/ |
| Baylor | 2019 | Second (2008, 2019) |
| Colorado State | Initial | N/A/ |
| Grambling State | Initial | N/A/ |
| Little Rock[6] | Initial | N/A |
| Penn State | 2006 | Second (2000) |
| Santa Clara | Initial | N/A/ |
| Seton Hall | 2022 | First (2022) |
| South Florida | 2023 | Second (2008, 2014) |
| Tennessee Tech | Initial | N/A/ |
| Texas Tech | 2024 | First (2000) |
| Xavier | 2013 | Second (2006) |
Men's tournament
Matchups for the Men's Paradise Jam were unveiled July 28, 2026.[7]
| Fourth Place Monday, November 23 ESPN+ | Consolation Semifinal Saturday, November 21 ESPN+ | Opening Round Friday, November 20 ESPN+ | Championship Semifinal Sunday, November 22 ESPN+ | Championship Monday, November 23 ESPN+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Middle Tennessee State | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana State | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen F. Austin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| UT Martin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seventh Place Monday, November 23 ESPN+ | Third Place Monday, November 23 ESPN+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah Valley | |||||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: loser of Third Place game finishes in Fifth Place; loser of Fourth Place game finishes in Sixth Place.
Women's tournament
The women's tournament bracket was unveiled July 28, 2026.[8]
Harbor division
| Third Place Friday, November 27 | Opening Round Thursday, November 26 | Championship Friday, November 27 | |||||||||||
| Little Rock | |||||||||||||
| Tennessee Tech | |||||||||||||
| Grambling State | |||||||||||||
| Colorado State | |||||||||||||
Island division
| Third Place Saturday, November 28 | Opening Round Thursday, November 26 | Championship Saturday, November 28 | |||||||||||
| Air Force | |||||||||||||
| Texas Tech | |||||||||||||
| Xavier | |||||||||||||
| Santa Clara | |||||||||||||
Reef division
| Third Place Saturday, November 28 | Opening Round Friday, November 27 | Championship Saturday, November 28 | |||||||||||
| Penn State | |||||||||||||
| Baylor | |||||||||||||
| South Florida | |||||||||||||
| Seton Hall | |||||||||||||
References
- ↑ "Paradise Jam – Join the Excitement". BasketballTravelers.com. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ "ECU Basketball will participate in the 2026 Paradise Jam Nov 20-23". YouTube.com. June 19, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Sycamore Basketball to play in 2026 Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands". GoSycamores.com. May 29, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ Kruse, Kruse (April 23, 2026). "Saluki Basketball Accepts Invite to Paradise Jam". SIUSalukis.com. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Piney Woods to Palm Trees: Jacks MBB Accepts Invitation to 2026 Paradise Jam". SFAJacks.com. April 9, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Little Rock Headed to Paradise: Trojans Bound for 2026 Paradise Jam in St. Thomas". LRTrojans.com. February 25, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Men's Tournament". BasketballTravelers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Women's Tournament". BasketballTravelers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.