OT-Carrier Classic
November 11th, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
Class guy until his starters are dunking on you up 30 in the last 3 minutes.
November 11th, 2011 at 7:34 AM ^
Weren't they up 60 doing alley-oops in the closing minute?
November 11th, 2011 at 8:10 AM ^
yeah that was back in the cleaves years i think
November 11th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
Never been a big opponent of running up the score. If you don't want to get embarassed, then step your game up. Hate when people knock teams for playing at the top of their game for a full game.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
There is something about outdoor basketball and hockey is just so cool
November 11th, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^
I know for a fact that this event has been in the works between MSU and UNC for over 5 years. It came out to the public sometime last year. That's how long it takes to get something like this set up. Pretty ridiculous idea, and most likely will be a sloppy game because of the surroundings (puts a little damper on it), but in my mind it's still pretty cool too. It's like one of those movies that are completely unbelievable but you don't care because it's badass.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^
My brother had a layover in San Diego today and mentioned that it was a little chilly out there. I wonder how weather may or may not be a factor in this game. I'm sure they'll have some sort of portable heating court-level. Plus, its usually pretty breezy on the ocean. I bet the game starts off with some bad shooting until the players get more comfortable in the elements.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^
November 11th, 2011 at 2:08 PM ^
It can get pretty chilly at night in San Diego especially in/around the bay. It all depends on which way the wind is coming in from.
Also which harbor is it located it?
November 11th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
....based on early week weather reports, i don't think they built the court in the hanger. If it rains it will be called off.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^
They always talk about how playing in football stadiums makes basketball players shooting worse because of the way the background looks. This is going to be even worse, plus there will be unsteady winds. The shooting is going to be bad all around, but I think the idea is unique and exciting enough that it doesn't matter as a one time thing. I just hope this doesn't become a annual thing. Basketball on an aircraft carrier isn't like playing hockey outside.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
Yeah I agree. Perhaps the setting itself will probably trump the actual entertainment coming from the court. But I think basketball involves so much in terms of tempo and rhythm. I think the 1st half will be everyone trying to figure out how to play in that setting, low-scoring and then a more entertaining 2nd half.
November 11th, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^
Plus, if the ship rocks at all, I'm sure that could throw people off. Can you imagine going up for a layup and just as you jump, the floor just dips below your feet?
November 11th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
The ship won't rock. It's an aircraft carrier sitting in port, it'll be just as steady as solid ground. I think the potential for wind is the real issue.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
Do you think they're playing on a pontoon boat?
November 11th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
On the Cedar River?
November 11th, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^
November 11th, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
Never mind just found out more about it on ESPN.com! Looks incredibly cool how they set the court up on deck!
November 11th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
November 11th, 2011 at 1:20 AM ^
Here's a cool time-lapsed video of the construction of the court and stand.
November 11th, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^
My mind is still blown every time I think about the fact that they can land planes on boats. Those things are so big.
November 11th, 2011 at 2:24 AM ^
It's gotta take so much skill to land planes, if you don't make it you're in the ocean
November 11th, 2011 at 5:35 AM ^
a big steel cable and tailhook
November 11th, 2011 at 9:08 AM ^
And on the newest carrier that may still be under construction, electromagnets.
November 11th, 2011 at 10:21 AM ^
That's exactly what I am thinking anytime I fly into LaGuardia.
November 11th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
Everything I've read about it calls it more of a controlled crash than a landing. I remember reading about a study they conducted during the Vietnam War where they wired up some Aviators and found they were under the most stress during the landing. So yeah, it's pretty cool.
November 11th, 2011 at 5:01 AM ^
Doesn't seem like there would be a bad seat there. This should be interesting to watch. I wonder if Maverick will request a fly-by despite the fact that he is assigned to Enterprise.
November 11th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
The pattern is full
November 11th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^
I would have a concern about the players getting knocked off the actual court though. The flight deck of aircraft carriers have a roughly pebbled surface to them that could cause severe "road rash" if a player falls on it. I'm thinking about those falls out of bounds at the ends of the courts players always get involved in. Overall, though, pretty cool setup.
November 11th, 2011 at 1:25 AM ^
Hopefully Michigan can play on the deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford after it's launched in a few years.
November 11th, 2011 at 6:55 AM ^
Um...so how bad does Sparty get beat down in this one. I for one am looking forward to yet another MSU meltdown in a big game. Fight Fight for N.C.U.
November 11th, 2011 at 7:29 AM ^
The weather and the surroundings are going to change the complexity of this game. It's not like playing in a gym. It may end up that MSU is able to make the necessary adjustments while UNC struggles.
Going into the game, it is easy to say that MSU benefits more from the uncertainty of the conditions that UNC.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
The 12 point spread
November 11th, 2011 at 7:50 AM ^
I say at least a twenty point loss. They need to wake up and realize things have changed. They play duke next week too. Nothing like starting the season with two blow out losses.
November 11th, 2011 at 9:11 AM ^
...HEELS!
November 11th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
There's between 7 and 9 NBA players on UNC's roster. 4 or 5 of them will be lottery picks. If State finds a way to keep the game in single digits up to halftime, I'll be very surprised.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
Absurd statement. Do you have any idea how hard it is to be an NBA player? UNC will be thrilled if 5-6 of them go on to careers in the league.
November 11th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
NBAdraft.net has 8 players being drafted in the next two mock drafts. In the words of Jim Calhoun, "Get some facts and come back and see me"
November 11th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Is that the old basketball league that folded?
November 11th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^
This is such an awesome event
November 11th, 2011 at 7:27 AM ^
This is the second-most gimmicky, made-for tv, fake-newsworthy, thing ever to happen on an aircraft carrier.
November 11th, 2011 at 7:42 AM ^
nvm please delete. I misread what your post.
November 11th, 2011 at 8:11 AM ^
a good idea...This game is for our armed forces ..Not so much msu vs nc...It should be a great environment ..I'll watch ..
November 11th, 2011 at 9:03 AM ^
I love the fact the tickets are only for serviceman/women but srlsy on a carrier??? This is so Lebron 2010 Decision gimmicky but whatever I guess. Just hope UNC wins.
November 11th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
I love the fact the tickets are only for serviceman/women
Honestly....probably a logistics/security thing as much as anything. Not feasible to do a check on 7,000 random people that want to go to the game.
November 11th, 2011 at 1:38 PM ^
November 11th, 2011 at 9:29 AM ^
Class guy. But no John Beilein.
November 11th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
I used to think Izzo was very classy; the one guy affiliated with MSU sports I could respect, straight up.
But I thought he came off like a whiny little bitch after last year's loss to U-M, saying Morris deserved to have Lucas throw the ball at him because he went for a layup and talked smack, etc etc I mean, come on.
November 11th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^
One thing I wanna put out there: this is being hailed as an event to honor servicemembers, and there will be a lot of that going on. From a practical standpoint, though.....this probably sucks for the Vinson crew. I mean sucks. I hope there's at least maybe a public thank-you during the event for the ship's crewmembers.
November 11th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
They're in port. It's not like the game is interrupting business-as-usual.
That's what makes this so incredibly gimmicky. You want to have a game for U.S. service people? Cool. Play it in a gym and only sell tickets to the military. It's not like they are going out to the middle of the ocean to entertain sailors who are battling bored at sea.
Hollis is a complete ass.