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PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC — Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl will mix business with pleasure prior to today’s exhibition game with BK Sadska (Noon EDT, 6 in Prague).

“I’ll be meeting with an agent who handles Czech prospects,’’ Pearl said Thursday. “UNLV has a player from the Czech Republic, and while 95-percent of the Czech players stay and play here, this agent also represents players in the pro league here.’’

Pearl said today’s connection could open future doors for Tennessee players.

“Let’s say Josh Tabb doesn’t make the NBA, but he’s good enough to play somewhere,’’ Pearl said. “There’s 15 teams here with two Americans on each team.’’

Pearl said professional basketball overseas is one of the things he sells in his talks with recruits about.

“I don’t sell the NBA, because if you’re good enough to play there, you’ll probably get there with or without me,’’ Pearl said. “But throughout my career we’ve been successful at placing players in Europe because of our experiences at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Southern Indiana.’’

Pearl said a $65,000 job playing basketball overseas right out of college is a pretty good start.

“My guys want to play after college, and it’s up to me and my staff to be able to help them do that,’’ Pearl said. “You see them out there, like Dane (Bradshaw), C.J. (Watson), Andre (Patterson) and Major (Wingate).’’

Pearl said there’s nothing shady or inappropriate about his meeting with the agent.

“That word, ‘agent,’ sometimes has bad connotations,’’ Pearl said. “The Morocco Mole was an agent.

“But the good agents are worth every penny they get paid, and this guy I’m meeting today knows every general manager and owner in this league,’’ Pearl said. “As long as we’re here and touring, it’s a good opportunity to develop new relationships.’’

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.