University of Oklahoma Athletics

Documentary of Sampson's Kuwait Trip on ESPN Family

Documentary of Sampson's Kuwait Trip on ESPN Family

November 18, 2005 | Men's Basketball

By: Athletics Communications

NORMAN, Okla. - Kelvin Sampson's August trip to Kuwait with six other current and former college basketball coaches and a TV analyst, will be highlighted during a one-hour documentary on ESPN2 Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. CST. 

The show will also air on ESPN on Dec. 31 at 5:30 p.m., immediately after OU's game versus Alabama. ESPNU will air the documentary 10 times between the Nov. 19 and Dec. 31 showings.

Sampson, Alabama's Mark Gottfried, Charlotte's Bobby Lutz, Michigan State's Tom Izzo, South Carolina's Dave Odom, Bobby Cremins (formerly of Georgia Tech), Mike Jarvis (formerly of St. John's) and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas coached in the Operation Hardwood military basketball tournament Aug. 27 - 31.

Sampson coached American troops from Camp Ali Al Salem, Kuwait.  His team finished in third place out of eight squads and barely missed out on a championship game appearance because of a nail-biting 56-49 double-overtime loss to Camp Doha.

 Sampson's Firsthand Account

"As a coach, I always talk about how I want my team to be committed, understand roles and have great chemistry," said Sampson upon his return to Oklahoma.  "Well, I had a chance to be around the ultimate team -- the United States Army.  And I learned so much.

"I promised those troops that when I returned home I would tell their story.  I made so many friends and now I get E-mails from some of them.  It was an inspiring, motivational and life-altering trip."

The Operation Hardwood "Hoops With the Troops" tournament started with teams of service members from the eight Kuwait military camps.  The double-elimination event was won by the Camp Arifjan team, coached by Izzo. 

Arifjan's victory wrapped up the three-day tournament that showcased the double-overtime victory by Camp Doha over Camp Ali Al Salem in the semifinals, a last-second basket for a Camp Navistar victory over Camp Buehring, as well as dunk and 3-point contests.

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