VCU to face Xavier in Paradise Jam

This press release just came in from Phil Stanton at Virginia Commonwealth University. (It has been edited a bit for space):

Anthony Grant

First-year head coach Anthony Grant and his VCU squad are set to participate in the seventh annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Men’s Basketball Tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. On Friday, Nov. 17, the Rams will meet Xavier of the Atlantic 10 in the tournament’s first round.

The 2006/07 Rams will be led by senior guards B.A. Walker and Jesse Pellot-Rosa. Walker averaged 11.7 ppg. last season and led the team with 63 three-pointers. Pellot-Rosa averaged 7.4 ppg. and paced VCU with 5.1 boards per game. The Rams were 19-10 a season ago, including a 11-7 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Xavier was 21-11 last season, its ninth 20-win season in the past 10 years. All five starters will return from the outfit the captured the 2006 Atlantic 10 championship. The teams have met twice, previously; VCU defeated Xavier in both of those games. The Rams will face either Villanova (28-5) or College of Charleston (17-11) in the second round.

Photo: SLANT