Report: Gonzaga, Michigan State 'finalizing' Veterans Day game on San Diego aircraft carrier

Details are being finalized regarding the the Gonzaga vs. Michigan State basketball game this coming fall. The two teams are already announced to be playing on an aircraft carrier, which has been a semi-frequent college basketball tradition over the last ten years. No better way to kick off a year of college hoops than by playing a game on the biggest form of boat in the country.

Jon Rothstein has now reported the expected location of the game. Here was report posted on FanDuel:

“Gonzaga and Michigan State are now finalizing plans to play a neutral site game on an aircraft carrier in San Diego on Veterans Day (Nov. 11th), multiple sources told FanDuel.

An official announcement is expected soon.”

How fitting. A game on a military ship honoring those in the service on the most appropriate day of all: Veterans Day. Should be a stellar event.

More on Gonzaga, Michigan State in 2022-23

By Nick Schultz

Gonzaga is once again in position to be a top team in the nation in 2022-23 after a 28-4 overall record last year. Which included a 14-1 record in West Coast Conference play. The Bulldogs are going to have to replace Chet Holmgren, who’s a projected top-three pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but landed two big-time players from the transfer portal. However, the return of Drew Timme is a huge boost for an already loaded group.

Former LSU center Efton Reid and former Chattanooga guard Malachi Smith are both heading to Spokane after becoming top-25 transfers to hit the portal this year, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

Michigan State, meanwhile, went 23-13 overall and 11-9 in Big Ten play last season. The Spartans are dealing with some tough losses, though. Max Christie, Gabe Brown and Marcus Bingham all departed. But Joey Hauser, Malik Hall and AJ Hoggard are all due back, and Michigan State has the No. 23 recruiting class in the nation coming in, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking. 

Jaxon Kohler has plenty of hype entering his freshman year, coming in as the No. 43 recruit in the nation from the class of 2022, according to the On3 Consensus. Which is a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.