NCAA: Coaches Return from Kuwait

Coaches Return from Kuwait: Several NCAA coaches recently returned from a trip to Kuwait, the second such trip by NCAA coaches and college basketball icons in two years. This year’s roster included Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Alabama’s Mark Gottfried, South Carolina’s Dave Odom, Charlotte’s Bobby Lutz, Indiana’s Kelvin Sampson, Texas’ Rick Barnes, Army’s Jim Crews, Navy’s Billy Lange, Kentucky’s Tubby Smith, Maryland’s Gary Williams, former Air Force coach Reggie Minton and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. Sampson led his team of military personnel to victory in the tournament. Izzo said the experience definitely helped him refocus on reality. He attended the tournament in Kuwait last year. Several of the warfighters who played in the tournament were scheduled to go to Baghdad soon. And some of the personnel scheduled to play in the tournament had died in recent action. [6/07/06]