Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl said he couldn't help but notice how Team USA got beat 101-95 by Greece in the semifinals of the world championships Thursday night.

"We've talked about the NCAA and its rule for two hours of practice a week,'' said Pearl, referring to preseason individual workouts. "Here we get beat by Greece because we shoot 50 percent from the foul line and they shoot 63 percent from the field.

"Parents of young men that come here say 'coach, teach my son to work harder,' but when you're only allowed to work with them two hours a week it's very difficult.''

Pearl said he doesn't like where it's going.

"The NBA starting a developmental league is right around the corner,'' said Pearl, who in the past has voiced concerns about outgoing high school players starting their careers in pro leagues overseas rather than play in college.

"If we, at the college level, don't respond to the fact that the world is beating our country at a game we invented over 100 years ago, that NBA developmental league is right around the corner.''

"All that said,'' Pearl said. "Our guys are working hard and doing the best they can within the framework of what the NCAA currently allows.''