Basketbowl

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DateDecember 13, 2003
Attendance78,129
NetworkCBS
Basketbowl
Kentucky Wildcats Michigan State Spartans
(4–0) (3–3)
79 74
Head coach:
Tubby Smith
Head coach:
Tom Izzo
1st half2nd halfTotal
Kentucky Wildcats 493079
Michigan State Spartans 433174
DateDecember 13, 2003
VenueFord Field, Detroit
Attendance78,129
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersVerne Lundquist and Billy Packer

The Basketbowl was a college basketball game between Michigan State University and the University of Kentucky held on December 13, 2003, at Ford Field, a domed American football stadium in Detroit, Michigan. Kentucky won the game 79–74, never trailing throughout the contest.[1]

The announced crowd of 78,129 set a record for verified[2] attendance at a basketball game in history.[1] While the record was broken at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, which drew 108,713 to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas,[3] the Basketbowl still holds the record for attendance at a college basketball game.

Both schools entered into the contest with significant on-court accomplishments. Combined, both schools had won nine national championships (seven for Kentucky, two for Michigan State) and made 18 Final Four appearances (13 for Kentucky, five for Michigan State). Michigan State and Kentucky had met 20 times previously with Kentucky holding an 11–9 advantage. Michigan State had defeated Kentucky 71–67 the previous year at Rupp Arena.

Court

The court being assembled in Ford Field.

The basketball court for the game was moved from Michigan State's Breslin Center and reassembled on the 50 yard line of Ford Field, giving the promotional title "Basketbowl: Hoops on the 50!"[citation needed] This is the same court that Michigan State won the 2000 NCAA Championship on in Indianapolis. In addition, the entire court was raised off the field by a custom stage deck installed by SGA Production Staging, Inc. to improve sight lines for those sitting in the upper bowl of the stadium.[citation needed]

Basketball attendance record

"BasketBowl II"

References

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