Carrier Classic: UNC Downs Michigan State On The USS Carl Vinson, 67-55

The North Carolina Tar Heels downed the Michigan State Spartans in the 2011 Carrier Classic, but the story of the evening was clearly the setting. Docked in San Diego, the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson served as the venue for Friday night’s matchup, and the ship was the star of the show.

Check out a few of the photos from the flight deck below and try not to have your jaw drop. You can’t.

It was closer than many expected, but the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels used a late first half spurt to take the lead before cruising to a 67-55 win over the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night in the Carrier Classic. The game was almost a subplot though, with the USS Carl Vinson and the San Diego backdrop taking center-stage. Basketball on an aircraft carrier on Veteran’s Day is a sight to behold.

Michigan State held its own, taking an early lead and keeping Friday’s matchup somewhat close throughout. UNC, try as it might, was never able to pull away, though the game was never much in doubt after a first half run had the Tar Heels heading into the locker room with a double-digit lead.

This is more like what we were expecting. After Michigan State inched ahead in the early-goings of the 2011 Carrier Classic, played on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, North Carolina began to assert itself as the first half wore on. At the half, North Carolina holds a double-digit lead, 36-25.

Harrison Barnes and John Henson paced the Tar Heels in the first half, each scoring eight points. Barnes had three rebounds and an assist, as well. Dexter Strickland scored six points, with James Michael McAdoo and Kendall Marshall each adding four.

After the pregame festivities finally came to a close, a real, live basketball game tipped off on the USS Carl Vinson, docked in San Diego. Michigan State and UNC have the honors in a game that was simply a brilliant idea. The setting is an absolutely incredible sight.

via 30fps.mocksession.com

Everything about the Carrier Classic is awesome. Basketball, Veteran’s Day, an aircraft carrier ... it’s just so perfect. It’s enough to make anyone want to scream out “AMERICA” or “I’m on a boat.” This, friends, is how every basketball game should be played.

And you can’t tell me you don’t want this leather Air Force One bomber jacket President Barack Obama is rocking for the festivities.

The Michigan State uniforms have been given much better reviews than the Tar Heels jerseys, but when looking at the two together, it actually seems like a pretty neat tribute to the armed forces as the college basketball teams play on the aircraft carrier.

For more on this game, Tar Heels fans should visit Carolina March while Spartans fans should join The Only Colors and SB Nation Detroit. Be sure to stay tuned to our Carrier Classic StoryStream for everything else taking place around this historic game.

The season opener for both teams, the game will be televised on ESPN at 7:00 pm.

Former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Magic Johnson (MSU) and James Worthy (UNC) will be on-hand as honorary captains for their alma maters. Other notable guests include President Barack Obama, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, 2,000 Navy sailors and a collection of wounded service members that have been invited.

The inaugural Carrier Classic will be played on Friday -- Veterans Day -- between North Carolina and Michigan State in San Diego. The second edition would likely be played on Nov. 9, but is not set in stone.

With another matchup between marquee programs, this game could turn into a must-see annual event -- the NCAA basketball’s version of NHL’s Winter Classic.

On Friday, Michigan State and North Carolina will take the court on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson in one of the cooler early-season basketball games you’ll see. Yes, the matchup is between two titans, but the fact the location is on an aircraft carrier makes this is a must-see event.

We’ve seen the photos of the Carrier Classic court and seating arrangements, but the time-lapse video of the construction efforts may be even more mesmerizing than seeing a basketball court on an aircraft carrier. If you’re wondering what it took to assemble the court and seating, hit the jump for an awesome time-lapse provided by the Navy.

With just a little over 24 hours to go before Michigan State faces North Carolina in the first “Carrier Classic” comes word that the Spartans have already agreed to play in the game again in 2013. This according to Joe Rexrode, who cites Mike Whalen of the Morale Entertainment Foundation as his source.

Additionally, Rexrode says the event has already been scheduled to continue next season with a men’s game between Arizona and Connecticut, and a women’s game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. The women’s teams from Connecticut and Stanford have also reportedly agreed to participate in 2013. As of this moment, no opponent for Michigan State has been named.

When you first heard that Michigan State and UNC were going to play a basketball game on an aircraft carrier into San Diego, that may have been a tough idea to process. Like theoretically you knew it was happening, but now that it’s a day away... It’s really happening.

Check out the photo after the jump.

The White House announced today that renowned college basketball fan, President Barack Obama will be attending the Carrier Classic between Michigan State and North Carolina. The game will be taking place Nov. 11 on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego.

“This Veterans Day, President Obama will honor our nation’s veterans by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and then by traveling to San Diego, California, to attend the Carrier Classic on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson,” the White House said in a statement. “He looks forward to a great game between Michigan State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.”

For those of us who are visual learners, here are three artist’s renditions via the Lansing State Journal:

Four thousand of the 7,000 seats will be reserved for military members -- with 1,500 more to be split between the two schools. Ensuring the crowd is almost entirely accounted for by the military and/or the two schools involved helps with security; as organizer Mike Whalen is quoted as saying, “Again, this is a United States warship.”

There’s still no word on which craft will be used, though the USS Ronald Reagan is the clubhouse leader.

As far back as November, we were wondering how this game would work. However it ends up looking, it sounds pretty awesome.

In January UNC coach Roy Williams confirmed the report, and Sparty athletic director Mark Hollis shared that the game would likely admit about 6,000 spectators. According to the plan as it stood at the time, 500 tickets would be given to each school, with the remainder going to troops and their families. He also said they’re looking to get Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan involved.