The Michigan State, North Carolina, Florida and Texas men’s basketball teams will play in a “barnstorming event” in December ’18 after agreeing to play “three games, one each in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles over an eight-day period … while traveling together on a single chartered airplane,” according to Andy Katz of ESPN.com. The teams will arrive in N.Y. on Dec. 14 “on their own,” with the first doubleheader scheduled for MSG the following day. They will then “travel together to Chicago later that night.” United Center will host the second doubleheader Dec. 18. The final doubleheader will be Dec. 22 at Staples Center. Michigan State AD Mark Hollis, who came up with the idea, said that each team will get a “home game against an opponent to be determined later to make this a four-game event and qualify as a multiteam event” (ESPN.com, 2/13). In Detroit, Joe Rexrode reports the matchups and times “have yet to be announced, but ESPN is backing the event and will televise the games.” Hollis said that enough revenue should be made “so the schools don’t have to pay for any trip expenses.” Some profit is “possible depending on ticket sales at the three venues.” He added that Marriott is “giving the teams rate breaks in the three cities, and he’s ‘99% sure’ Delta Airlines will be providing the plane” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/13).
