Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: Carrier Classic ship headed to North Korea

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green speaks to Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green speaks to Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The aircraft carrier that Michigan State basketball faced North Carolina on in 2011, USS Carl Vinson, is heading to North Korea.

Michigan State basketball has played in a variety of unique places over the past 10 years. Mark Hollis has been a magician with planning these events for his program to get them to play in some of the most off-the-wall locations that draw a ton of media attention.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: All-time Tom Izzo era starting five, bench

One of the most memorable games came back in 2011 when the Spartans traveled to San Diego to face North Carolina. It was one of the most exciting early-season games in recent memory and the Spartans played on the aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, in front of 8,111 people, including President Barack Obama.

It was one of those games that, even though the Spartans lost 67-55, the players would remember for the rest of their lives. Not often will you see a college basketball game played outside on the deck of a ship with the President of the Unites States in attendance.

The USS Carl Vinson will always be special to Tom Izzo and the Spartans as well as Roy Williams and North Carolina.

However, that aircraft carrier is now headed to the Sea of Japan, a potential war zone, according to ABC News. The U.S. is stationed in the Sea of Japan because of tensions that are arising with North Korea and a potential missile attack.

Related Story: 5 reasons Miles Bridges will stay another year

Hard to believe that a ship which Draymond Green, Branden Dawson, Adreian Payne, Derrick Nix and Travis Trice played on will be heading to a potential war zone just six years later.

Home/Spartans Basketball