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Four years ago twelve feet lead in CA basketball coaches traveled to from the league's. For an extraordinary chance to coach so. Pressure off this season storied -- in terms of conflict. Sports can provide resolution will be one for the restaurant I'm. This is operation hard.

Hey everybody I'm -- Thanks for tuning into that second installment of the operation hardwood. Last week we lefty in the middle of the turn him defending champion Tom Izzo -- all -- my -- teams were eliminated in the first round. And navy coach Billy -- team was proving to be at Cinderella story. But the point of operation hardwood went far beyond the court. It was a chance for the coaches to show their support to the nation's troops. And now. Let's take a closer look at a longhorns have brought a piece of the lone star state to the middle --

good enough that we've got the whole lane drought in the fifth didn't want to. --

Or in the -- All right now let's fast forward four years earlier today when I caught up for the longhorns had Coach Rick Barnes from Austin, Texas. Patrick finds welcome today thanks for -- rated good to see Julian yet I don't while it's been about four years since we all took that trip to Kuwait. We're what do you remember about Patrick.

When there's a lot of memories I have from the trip and no one out of Muncie where the coaches that I went over there -- than the flight over and had a chance to meet you in las about a -- that I had he had before that trip over was great in -- when we got there. Really understand and the sacrifices that this soldiers give up for us and once we got -- got assigned to our team in early in the very short -- the way you bond with your team and and how serious they were about the -- madness and how much they really wanted to win the the basketball tournament. Usually -- those guys and again he -- seeing -- how much they appreciated us coming over there but. After being there that we play them you just knew that though they were who want him they don't make the real sacrifices but. It was a great week and wanted I would give up for me thank you keeping contact with any of the trip you've coached. -- and I got back actually get out first got back in and now -- A lot of Texas. Equipment out we'll look at that I promised him I would do that you know we all that stuff over for the the troops -- We got back and in the group that I knew it. A lot of were really from the south and a number from Mississippi in the South Carolina Georgia Texas area so -- For awhile that we get cars followed each other and just really nice letters back from. Some of those that we that we are aware of that week. It was really neat given you know different people my Brothers --

You know not a lot of people have been able to say that they've gone into a war zone -- close to a war zone. You know I'm -- had some preconceived notions of what Kuwait it was gonna be like before you got there. Was anything dispelled any of the myth that you had heard about what war with like her getting ready to go to war with anything -- when you've got to see it with your own eyes.

The thing that you most take from this trip is truly the sacrifices our soldiers who for us and what they do for our country and and you know the whole town that I can remember being there to not you never want to complain about anything and he told me that. That you wanna be shocked at how grateful they already were coming okay. And if that's true I mean when you get here you think about what we're doing is no sacrifice compared to what they're -- Do you think about it them being -- history it's all about fans and enough. Again the sacrifices that that they truly are maker for our freedom and and and the fact is they're the real hero.

let's talk a little basketball right now. How do you think your Texas basketball players would do with soldiers and vice Versa.

How would they -- a soldier get my players. They would. They're not nearly they're not nearly as tough enough mentally. They no absolutely not and I do think that day in the soldiers came and did what I asked -- players to do they -- probably look at me and say he's there yet. You know they would expect the whole lot more -- a lot to offer but. If I took my players over there they would look at me like are you kidding me we can't do that so up and guess what their right how earlier troops that free throw shooting. Well I would rather have the truth -- I had over there she'd treat those and one I -- this year I can say that you think it helped your game. Might well this year I would probably have most of the plan because of the mental toughness.

The real purpose of this is to save the lives. This things very happy when you get upside down become this story and we built the simulator to be able to senior.

Obviously that -- year old was great because I can remember look NFC. The face of some of those guys in and remember you know our first in line. Born to do this there was kind of back and they were afraid to do it in. You know winning in my plane to us that you know a lot of the problem where. You know when non B go to forgive people out which it does get killed this or did you how did the first time. Again -- in real life you with a kill me about trying to protect you so much in the second time he did get battered women that kind of rattled W river forgot it was the funniest involves Tubby Smith. He looked like. He had been. You know I mean -- this -- when he came up Monday.

Okay.

I'll never get today that we actually within an inch plate a little bit beyond basketball -- have anything -- the youth clinic. Yeah I remember I went up in the stands and sit down those. Two gentlemen it then and it was time on this is what Texas is about -- and but it was fun they are gonna ask don't our never sounded like can remain and that a concern -- we got him. Pessimistic ideology at that vehicle that have been -- analytic video that I mean who didn't teach that to you. Let's Rihanna the look of yeah I think -- got everybody out there that's that's that's that's universal welcomes on -- I know what that is like it. Can you just kind of wrapped up how was your little fraternity of coaches the twelve if you that whenever there. You know it it was a great -- on the I think back up some respond that we had was. It Gary Williams and obviously you know obviously it can only trip -- Tom is that group. Some of the -- really and truly had known each other since college hey it is and I'm not enough to get into the business together and you get a handle on. And I think the calls that trip what will always be bonded in its effort wide in wonder why we don't get together. You know and and I went -- talked all these guys at some point in time during our conversation today. That trip comes up and was there something that happened here whether. It was something very serious that we talk about or -- there were a lot of funny things as you know you we had a really good time taken on some people and and in getting after some people and so that was fun and you think back that today his will be memories that will will always hold don't do enough I really enjoy it.

Okay thanks -- and that does it for the second installment of operation hardwood but we still have two more episodes together. We'll catch up but more coaches including Tom Izzo and Gary Williams. Today passed the testing combat situation. You don't wanna miss the tips they gave to Kuwait up and coming in basketball star. Find out who took home the championship. Plus a -- unforgettable moments that left no dry eyes in the house. We'll see you next time for episode three finally and Sweden thank you for watching.