May 8, 2009

Puerto Rico Tip-Off Website

BOSTON - ESPN Regional Television, Inc. (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN, announced Friday that Boston University is among the eight schools that will make up an elite field that includes the ACC's Georgia Tech and Final Four participant Villanova for the 2009 O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off to be held Nov. 19-22 in San Juan. Led by first-year head coach Patrick Chambers in the program's 101st season, the Terriers will feature two of the top four 2008-09 returning scorers for the tournament in rising senior Corey Lowe and junior John Holland.

The field for the third annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off, held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in the cosmopolitan Hato Rey district of San Juan, will also include Ole Miss, Dayton, George Mason, Indiana and Kansas State. Eight different conferences are represented among the eight schools.

"We are excited about traveling to beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico," said Chambers, the former associate head coach of the Villanova Wildcats. "The teams in the field represent the best conferences in the country and our guys are fired up about the opportunity. A tournament like this prepares us to play on the road, to play in the America East and brings enthusiasm to our University and our program."

The Terriers finished last season with a record of 17-13, including a 11-5 league mark. The team will return nine seniors and will be making its first trip to Puerto Rico.

"The Puerto Rico Tip-Off continues to develop into a premier basketball tournament, as this year's field represents outstanding conferences from around the country," said Pete Derzis, Senior Vice President and General Manager, ESPN Regional Television. "We're looking forward to this event, in its third year, showcasing such quality competition and a memorable experience for the fans, student-athletes, coaches and staff on and off the court in the great destination of San Juan."

The 2009 O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off will feature 12 games in three days, Nov. 19-22. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 22. All games will be televised on ESPN's family of networks, and the complete schedule will be announced later this summer.

In November 2008, Xavier defeated Memphis, 63-58, in the championship game. Both teams were eventually ranked in the top 10 in the polls later in the season. Miami (Fla.) won the inaugural O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2007.

Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off Web site at www.PuertoRicoTipoff.com.

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