Feb. 20, 2017 
| Terry can be reached at Terry.Foster@cbsradio.com
Oakland Coach Greg Kampe first met freshman Isaiah Brock on an Army base in Kuwait.
Inside a giant cement wall, leading to the barracks, troops displayed a burned out car, fire bombed by terrorist somewhere in the Middle East. It was a reminder for soldiers to watch their every step while stationed in Kuwait. There were land mines and booby traps even in areas that seemed safe.
Kampe told the story of the bombed out car and its symbolism to his players after their impressive victory over Valparaiso Friday night. He wanted to make sure players were on their game and at peak mental performance against lesser foes UIC Sunday and for Tuesday's game against Youngstown State on the Blacktop at the O'rena.
Kampe said he asked the guide on the base about the burned out car.
"He told me that's a reminder to the soldiers that every step you take you have to be on your guard," Kampe told his team. "I'm not saying anything we do is anything like that. But we have a reminder as we play Chicago and Youngstown. We have Detroit and Cleveland State that blew up our season in this building. If we win those two games we are so far ahead of it with 22 wins. But we didn't and we have to remember. That is our reminder like that car is for those soldiers. In your mind you have to remember that because of the euphoria you got five wins in a row and dominating Valpo in the euphoria you can push in the wrong direction. You have to stay focused and sharp and realize that in 34 hours we play a game that is every bit as important as this one. So that has to be on your mind."
In other words don't turn your back because danger is lurking.
Some people do not like mingling real life and death stories of war with sports. However, Brock the soldier loved it. He listened intently to the story even though he lived it in Kuwait. And he thought it was the proper message for the team.
Oakland escaped the first land mine with an 87-75 victory over UIC Sunday. Now comes Youngstown State.
"It was a great analogy," Brock said. "I felt like it had an effect on the team. These guys are young and they have not experienced anything like this. I know it hit home for me because it made you realize people over there are risking their lives and you should be grateful to be here."
Kampe saw Brock play in the desert heat and despite his roughness on the court offered him a scholarship to play at Oakland. Brock played lacrosse in high school but got some Division II basketball offers before he graduated. However, he was not a serious student and his grade point average was a testament to that. So he enrolled in the military.
Brock spent four years in the Army before coming to the Golden Grizzlies. Oakland petitioned the NCAA to clear Brock to play, saying his experience in the military changed him. After initially saying no the NCAA changed its mind and Brock was allowed to play this season. Now Brock is the Golden Grizzlies starting center and finished with nine points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots in the victory over the Flames which kept the Black and Gold (21-7 overall, 11-4 in the Horizon League) a game behind first-place Valparaiso (22-6, 12-3). Valpo stayed ahead of Oakland by beating Detroit Mercy 83-63 on Sunday.
Kampe told the story because of fears that his team lets up against inferior opponents. Two of Oakland's losses are home losses to Cleveland State and UDM, which are the bottom two teams in the conference. The Black and Gold rebounded to beat both teams on the road.
Brock keeps in touch with his Army buddies who wish him luck before games and follow his career over the Internet.
"I go into each game thinking how grateful I am to be here," Brock said. "And I try to pray for every one still over there."
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