They're going to try to play college basketball on an aircraft carrier again, and nautical veteran Tom Izzo and Michigan State will get a return trip to San Diego Bay to faceGonzaga on Veteran's Day.
The game will be shown in prime time on Nov. 11 from the flat top moored at Naval Air Station North Island, across the bay from downtown San DIEGO. The Abraham Lincoln is going to return to port later this summer.
The Spartans lost to the Tar Heels on the flight deck of the Carl Vinson. The president and his wife watched the court. The burial of Osama bin Laden took place at sea after he was killed by Navy Seals.
The last time an aircraft carrier game was played was in 2012 when only two of four games were played because of rain.
The Carrier Classic ended less than an hour before the rain came, one of the dangers organizers face in staging the games. There was a plan to have a backup court on the hangar deck.
Izzo was happy to play in a carrier game.
Izzo said that the experience of playing North Carolina on the deck of the Carl Vinson was one of the most difficult of his career. "Obviously, we wanted to win and any game against a program like that is very special, but to me, the game was more than just a win or a loss"
The opportunity to play on an aircraft carrier in front of men and women who serve in the military and are willing to put their lives on the line is an experience that is going to mean something to the young men who will play in the game for a long time. We're going to play one of the best teams in the country and we're going to be hosted by the top team in the world.
Mark Few is the head coach of the school.
The coach said that it was a chance for the program to support those who fight for their country. We're looking forward to the game against Michigan State and their coach. This will be a great memory for all of us.
Mother Nature played a major role in the end of the aircraft carrier craze.
Notre Dame defeated Ohio State in a women's game that started in the afternoon in the Carrier Classic. The men's game between Ohio State and Marquette was not going to start because of condensation.
The game against Georgetown and the University of Florida was called off after the first half because of condensation on the floor.
The game between Syracuse and San Diego State was pushed back two days because of the rain. A brisk wind blowing across the bay made it difficult for the Aztecs to shoot the ball in their loss to the Orange.
In case of bad weather or world events that cause the aircraft carrier to be unavailable, all parties will consider contingencies, according to Clint Overby.
He said it was an option that presented itself. There wasn't a big plan for it. We explored it and found it to be viable after we had a discussion about it. We were able to find teams who wanted to engage in that experience and understand the logistical challenges that could be presented.
"Coaches and institutions have always been interested in giving a thank you to the men and women of the military," Overby said. The number of teams that have lined up to play in these events has been well received by the intercollegiate basketball community. We're happy about that.
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