Xavier and the rest of the Puerto Rico Tip-off field moving to Orlando due to Zika concerns

Per a release from Xavier today, the Puerto Rico Tip-off will be moving from San Juan to Orlando due to concerns about the Zika virus. According to Pete Derzis, senior VP of ESPN Events, concerns about athlete and spectator safety prompted the move. Xavier has warm memories of this event in Puerto Rico, having won it in 2007.

Of course, Xavier also has warm memories of the Orlando venue, having gone three for three there must last year, capping a win in the Advocare Invitational by trouncing little brother Dayton. The Muskies will be joined in Orlando by the same field that was announced for Puerto Rico, with Arizona State, Clemson, Davidson, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tulane also having their travel plans amended.

The schedule also remains the same. Xavier will tip off in that coveted 1pm Thursday slot on November 17th against Missouri. A win there would place Xavier in a semifinal at either 1:30pm or 7pm on Friday. The final games of the weekend will come on Sunday, and Xavier will play UNI in a non-bracketed game on Saturday, November 26th. All games in Orlando will be on the ESPN family of networks.