Sgt. Robert Adams

3rd Army public affairs office

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait ? Tubby Smith, University of Kentucky head coach, traveled to Kuwait along with 12 other NCAA basketball coaches and sports personalities, to coach a military team in the Operation Hardwood II basketball tournament May 23-28.

Smith will be coaching troops from one of the Camp Arifjan teams. Smith got the opportunity to meet his players, teach them plays and drills and coach them in a scrimmage May 24. In addition to coaching, Smith will also get the chance to learn about military life in Kuwait as well as the Kuwaiti culture. He will get the opportunity to ride in a tank, a Bradley fighting vehicle as well as ride a camel. The coaches will also visit troops at the Camp Arifjan medical hospital, tour the humvee up-armor facility, stay in Army barracks, and hold a basketball clinic for Kuwait children in Kuwait City.

?I look out here and I see family,? Smith said to troops during a meet and greet session. ?You are representing your country with so much pride and class.

?I appreciate that you opened up your home to us,? Smith added.

The Operation Hardwood “hoops with the troops” tournament consists of 12 teams of servicemembers from the seven Kuwait military camps. The teams will play games in a one of three pools. How they perform during pool play will determine their seeding for the single-elimination tournament.

The other coaches are Tom Izzo, Michigan State, Mark Gottfried, Alabama, Gary Williams, Maryland, Dave Odom, South Carolina, Kelvin Sampson, Indiana, Rick Barnes, Texas, Bobby Lutz, UNC – Charlotte, Jim Crews, West Point, Reggie Menton, Air Force Academy, Billy Lange, Naval Academy, and Jay Bilas, ESPN analyst.

Photos provided by Sgt. Robert Adams
Bottom photo – Best Damn Sports Show’s Leeann Tweeden interviews Coach Smith