University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Begin Preparations for European Tour
August 02, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Vols Begin Preparations for European Tour
Bruce Pearl
The Tennessee basketball team started its preparations for a European tour that begins next week. The Vols held the first of 10 practices Wednesday afternoon in a steamy Stokely Athletic Center as they prepared for a five-game, 11-day tour that includes stops in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria.
???It is really wonderful to see these guys again in the sense that most of them went home for the second session of summer school,??? head coach Bruce Pearl said. ???We are very grateful to the University of Tennessee for their commitment and their willingness to send us to Europe to represent this great university. This is a terrific athletic and educational opportunity for our guys. Dr. David Tompkins, a history professor who specializes in this part of Europe, is going on the trip to guide and teach us about the countries we are visiting. From a basketball standpoint, our guys are going to play some new roles and the experience will help us grow closer.???
The tour begins on August 8 with a flight from Atlanta to Prague where they will start the trip with sightseeing tour of the city. The team will play two games in the Czech Republic before traveling to Bratislava, Slovakia, for two more contests. UT will conclude the tour in Vienna, Austria, with a single game.
Although the newcomers and transfers are not allowed to practice with the team and will not make the trip, the summer tour will give the Vols a head start on most other teams who will have to wait until October before they can practice.
???At first everyone we looked a little sloppy but we are coming around,??? senior guard Jordan Howell said after UT???s second practice session. ???This will give us a step ahead of everyone else because we will have five games and 10 practices before anyone else does.???
Tennessee is one of four Southeastern Conference schools that are doing international tours this year. Alabama (Ottawa) and LSU (Toronto) are traveling north to Canada while Auburn is visiting Cancun, Mexico.
