Four of college basketball’s elite open their seasons today in the Armed Forces Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.
State Farm Armed Forces Classic
At Stan Sheriff Center
No. 10 Arizona vs. No. 12 Michigan State
No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 11 Indiana
When: Today, Arizona-Michigan State, 2 p.m. Kansas-Indiana, 4 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Two will leave with wins over highly ranked opponents. The takeaway for each will run deeper than the final scores.
ESPN Events introduced the Armed Forces Classic in 2012, with a five-year rotation culminating with a visit to Hawaii this year to coincide with the upcoming 75th commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
So for Arizona, Michigan State, Kansas and Indiana, the lead-up to the Veterans Day doubleheader adds to the value of the season-opening trip to Oahu.
“It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said.
“You try to educate your players to what happened, but we were fortunate to have one of the survivors talk to our team who was on the USS Arizona that day and the fact that he was, in his 90s, able to articulate some of the things that he saw and felt, how many of his other sailors that he lost that day, it set the tone for the trip for our guys.
“I think they know the meaning and we’re not only excited to play the game and be here as part of this event, but it’s awesome for them to see that part of history.”
No. 10 Arizona opens the doubleheader by taking on No. 12 Michigan State at 2 p.m. No. 3 Kansas faces No. 11 Indiana at 4.
Arizona’s inclusion in the event ties into the Pearl Harbor’s history and all four teams visited the USS Arizona Memorial, toured a destroyer and submarine stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam over the past two days and participated in clinics for kids on the base on Wednesday.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he’s been involved in several such events involving the military, “and I always say it’s kind of a game-changer for me, it’s life changing.”
For Kansas and Michigan State, the trip is part of a far-flung opening week. Both follow up today’s games with a trip to New York for the Champions Classic on Tuesday where Kansas faces No. 1 Duke and MSU takes on No. 2 Kentucky.
“We would not have done this if it wasn’t for the educational aspect of it,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “We were in Maui last year and we play in New York on Tuesday, so it had to be something very worthwhile for us to do it and we feel this is. Especially on the 75th anniversary of what took place this Dec. 7 is something that I think our guys will get a lot out of.”
The Jayhawks are the highest rated of the group coming off of an appearance in the Elite Eight before losing to eventual national champion Villanova. Indiana reached the Sweet 16 and Michigan State and Arizona fell victim to first-round upsets.
Arizona returns to the Sheriff Center four years after winning the Diamond Head Classic and will have a revamped rotation that includes highly touted 7-foot freshman Lauri Markkanen and McDonald’s All-American Kobi Simmons.
Michigan State lost AP Player of the Year Denzel Valentine but added 6-foot-7 freshman swingman Miles Bridges, who was named a first-team preseason All-American by The Sporting News.
“There’s a lot of question marks that we all have,” Izzo said. “How we’re going to make some adjustments that are a little different and then playing one of the bigger teams that we’ll play all year probably, it’ll be interesting to see and I’m looking forward to it as much as everybody else is.”
Kansas is led by senior guard Frank Mason III (12.9 points per game last season), and freshman guard Josh Jackson received votes for Associated Press preseason All-America consideration.
Indiana sophomore center Thomas Bryant also received preseason All-America votes after averaging 11.9 points and 5.8 rebounds last season.
“I think to be involved in something like this is great,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said. “It’s going to be great basketball, but it’s so much more than basketball.”
