Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball to play in Cancun tournament next year
11/10/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2010
By Tom Weber
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki men's basketball will make its first international trip for a regular-season game when it plays in the Cancun Governor's Cup next season.
Tournament organizers announced six of the eight teams today that will compete in the 2011 tournament, to be held in late December around the Christmas holiday, at Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Mexico. The remaining two teams will be announced at a later date.
In addition to SIU, the second-annual Cancun Governor's Cup field includes the College of Charleston, Kansas State, Massachusetts, Rice and Utah.
"It's a basketball coach's tournament," said Saluki head coach Chris Lowery. "You have good teams with great history. Plus, it's in a beautiful area in Cancun. We are looking forward to it."
The 2011 Cancun Governor's Cup, a bracket-format tournament, will feature 12 games over three days . Each team will compete in one game per day. The two teams that remain undefeated after two days will face off in a championship game on the final day.
The tournament offers teams an opportunity to practice, play and be immersed in the Mexican culture and landscape.
"It will give our kids a chance to see another culture and the way that they celebrate the holidays," Lowery said. "For our fans, it's just a great treat for them to be able to say, `Hey, we are going to go to Cancun for Christmas.'"
The Cancun Governor's Cup is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television, Inc. (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN. Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the Cancun Governor's Cup Web site at www.CancunGovernorsCup.com.
