Liberty heads to Orlando this week to participate in the 2025 ESPN Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational. The Flames will take part in the eight-team tournament where all three of Liberty’s games will be televised on an ESPN network. The games will be played at the State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
The Flames will open the week against Vermont on Monday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU. Liberty will then play either Rhode Island or Towson on Tuesday afternoon. If Liberty beats Vermont, their second game will be on Tuesday at Noon. If the Flames drop their first contest, they will play again on Tuesday at about 2:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Noon on ESPN2.
The other side of the bracket features Temple taking on UC San Diego and Princeton against Bradley. Those games are scheduled for Monday evening, beginning at 4:30 p.m. These teams are competing in the Adventure Bracket, one of three different events being held in Orlando by ESPN Events over Thanksgiving week.
Here’s a quick preview on each of the teams competing in this year’s Paradise Jam this week. Rankings are from KenPom.
#81 LIBERTY (4-0)
- 2024-25 record: 28-7 (13-5 in C-USA/1st)
- Head coach Ritchie McKay (13th season)
- Wins: Valpo, Seattle, Carolina University, Charleston
- Losses: FAU
#100 RHODE ISLAND (4-1)
- 2024-25 record: 18-13 (7-11 A-10/t-10th)
- Head coach Archie Miller (4th season)
- Wins: Stetson, Stonehill, Albany, Yale
- Losses: Tulsa
- Series history vs Liberty: N/A
#123 TEMPLE (3-1)
- 2024-25 record: 17-15 (9-9 in American/7th – NCAA Tournament)
- Head coach Adam Fisher (3rd season)
- Wins: Delaware State, La Salle, Hofstra
- Losses: Boston College
- Series history vs Liberty: N/A
#128 UC SAN DIEGO (4-0)
- 2024-25 record: 30-5 (18-2 in Big West/1st – NCAA Tournament)
- Head coach Clint Allard (1st season)
- Wins: La Verne, Houston Christian, Fresno State, Idaho
- Losses: N/A
- Series history vs Liberty: Liberty leads, 1-0
#134 BRADLEY (2-3)
- 2024-25 record: 28-9 (15-5 in Missouri Valley/2nd – NIT)
- Head coach Brian Wardle (11th season)
- Wins: Central Michigan, UMass Lowell
- Losses: St. Bonaventure, UT Martin, San Francisco
- Series history vs Liberty: Liberty leads, 1-0
#136 TOWSON (3-2)
- 2024-25 record: 22-11 (16-2 in CAA/1st)
- Head coach Pat Skerry (15th season)
- Wins: Wilson, Norfolk State, Loyola Maryland
- Losses: Houston, JMU
- Series history vs Liberty: Towson leads, 9-4
#176 VERMONT (4-1)
- 2024-25 record: 21-12 (13-3 in America East/2nd)
- Head coach John Becker (15th season)
- Wins: Western New England, Plattsburgh State, Northeastern, Brown
- Losses: Buffalo
- Series history vs Liberty: Liberty leads, 1-0
#219 PRINCETON (3-3)
- 2024-25 record: 19-11 (8-6 in Ivy League/t-3rd)
- Head coach Mitch Henderson (15th season)
- Wins: John Jay, Bucknell, Northeastern
- Losses: Kansas, Akron, Iona
- Series history vs Liberty: Princeton leads, 4-0
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