The MSU men's basketball team might get a chance next year to take its game to a whole new level - aboard an aircraft carrier.

University officials are engaged in talks about the plan, which would pit MSU against the Navy while the Air Force would take on North Carolina in a season-opening doubleheader. The NCAA approved the game and ESPN already has agreed to air it, but the Defense Department would have to give final approval for the event to take place.

"The purpose of the event is to provide support for the U.S. Armed Services, specifically those individuals that have put themselves in harm's way to protect the freedom that we enjoy as Americans," MSU assistant athletics director John Lewandowski said. "As leaders in collegiate athletics, these institutions have embraced the concept of trying to assist other Americans."

But MSU athletics director Ron Mason was quick to note that plans haven't been finalized.

"There hasn't been any action taken yet as to whether it's going to be a reality," Mason said. "There's a lot of things that have to happen before a game like this can be put together."

The tentative schedule calls for the games to be played on the flight deck on Nov. 12 or 13. Portable grandstands with an 8,000-spectator capacity would be placed on the flight deck. The Defense Department would decide which aircraft carrier and port to use.

Freshman guard Shannon Brown had not heard of the event, but said he will be looking forward to it.

"That should be fun," he said. "You get to show the world what you can do."

Mason said the U.S. Navy and other governmental agencies would have to get involved before plans can be finalized.

MSU contrived the concept, said Troy Garnhart, sports information director for Air Force Academy, said. MSU contacted the academy last month to ask if it would be interested in being involved.

"Yeah, we're going to do it. It's going to be a nationally televised game, which sounded like a neat experience," Garnhart said.

The program's exposure was the main reason for the academy's interest in participating, he said.

Some of the revenue generated from the game would be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides unrestricted gifts of $10,000 to families of military personnel who lost their lives in current military operations.

The event would be consistent with the Spartans' recent history of participating in innovative game settings. MSU minds also were behind the Cold War on Oct. 6, 2001, where MSU's hockey team battled Michigan in front of 74,554 fans at Spartan Stadium. During the BasketBowl, the MSU's men's basketball team was pitted against Kentucky at Ford Field on Dec. 13 in front of 78,129 fans.

But Tuesday night's loss to Wisconsin diminished any excitement redshirt junior guard Tim Bograkos had for the event.

"It'd be cool, I guess," he said. "Right now, it really doesn't matter, another world record."

Evan Rondeau can be reached at rondeau1@msu.edu.

Joe Guillen can be reached at guillenj@msu.edu.