Photos: UNC and Michigan State’s Military-Inspired 11-11-11 Uniforms

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You probably already know that tonight’s University of North Carolina vs Michigan State contest will take place on an aircraft carrier, but that’s not the only thing that’ll make this tilt a little extra special. The two teams will also be rocking the military-inspired, camouflage-print HyperElite jerseys, shorts and sneakers pictured above. Not only do the outfits pay tribute to veterans, they’re also state-of-the-art in many, many respects. For one, they’re the lightest basketball uniform ever produced, according to a Nike press release. Secondly, they’re literally made from recycled plastic bottles; an average of 36 plastic bottles went into each uniform that’ll be worn, with 17 going into each jersey and 19 going into each pair of shorts.

“We have the utmost respect for the unwavering commitment of our Armed Forces and  are honored to be part of a tremendous tribute to these men and women,” Michigan St. Head Coach Tom Izzo said in a press release. In the same release, UNC Coach Roy Williams added: “We both hold the military in the highest esteem and wanted our teams to reflect this in their game day attire. We also agreed that ‘United We Stand’ was the perfect motto for the game on this Veterans Day.”

The game will air on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. EST.