University of Tennessee Athletics
Basketball Vols To Begin Practice Oct. 1
September 24, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 1, 2003
While most of the basketball teams across the country will have to wait to begin practicing for the upcoming season, the Tennessee Volunteers will get a jump on the season when they start practice Oct. 1.
The Vols will be making a trip to the Dominican Republic during their Fall Break to play a pair of exhibition games. Tennessee will depart Knoxville Wednesday, Oct. 15 and return four days later. The NCAA allows up to 10 practices in preparation for international trips. Teams not making international trips during their Fall Break must wait until the official start of practice on Oct. 18.
"The good thing about this is that we are able to start practice early," third-year head coach Buzz Peterson said. "That will give us a chance to get to know some things early on before we come back and start exhibition season. That is a big advantage for this year."
The Vols return eight letterwinners, including two starters from last year's squad that finished with a 17-12 record that included a 9-7 Southeastern Conference mark. Brandon Crump, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, is UT's top returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds last season. Also returning for the Vols is sophomore point guard C.J. Watson, who averaged 9.1 points per game while ranking third in the SEC with 5.52 assists per game.
The trip to the Dominican Republic will give Tennessee's newcomers a chance to get some game experience. Transfers Jemere Hendrix and Scooter McFadgon will be eligible to play after sitting out last season. Also, the incoming freshmen will be able to participate on the trip.
