Navy-Marine Corps Classic 2012: Florida, Georgetown finally set for battle on USS Bataan

The first game of Florida's 2012-13 men's basketball season happens in circumstances that are unlikely to be duplicated ever again: The Gators and the Georgetown Hoyas will tip off on the deck of the USS Bataan, docked in Jacksonville, in the 2012 Navy-Marine Corps Classic.

Florida returns starters Kenny Boynton, Erik Murphy, and Patric Young from a team that went to its second straight Elite Eight in 2011-12, but will miss Scottie Wilbekin (suspension) and Casey Prather (concussion) tonight against the rugged Hoyas, who are likely to start a crew of tall players and rely on junior guard Markel Starks.

Young is from Jacksonville, and will be making his second start in the city after helping the Gators beat Rider last season. Georgetown's Aaron Bowen and Bradley Hayes are also both from Jacksonville.

Here's all of what you need to know about #BeatGeorgetownOnABoat.

Game time, TV channel: 9 p.m. Eastern, NBC Sports Network. You can use the NBC Sports channel finder to locate the game on your local cable or satellite provider.

Series history: Florida is 2-2 against Georgetown. The Gators are 2-1 against Georgetown under Billy Donovan, memorably knocking the Hoyas out of the 2006 NCAA Tournament on a Corey Brewer shot in the final seconds, but also scored 40 points at Georgetown in 1990, their low as a program since 1986.