The Spartans are packing their bags for the college basketball season opener with a familiar theme.

Michigan State and Connecticut are planning to play at a Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Nov. 9. The Spartans lost to North Carolina aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier near San Diego to open the 2011 season.

Izzo has twice served as a traveling ambassador to military bases, including during the Iraq war.

Ramstein is the home of the U.S. Air Force in Germany and a NATO installation. The location is pending final military approval and negotiations to televise the game on ESPN have been finalized.