PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl watched his players march up and down the brick streets and across long bridges near the Prague Castle on Friday morning and afternoon.

“Look at this, it’s the day of the game, and these guys are walking hills and through castles and churches,’’ Pearl said. “But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. They’ll play 1,000 games in their career.’’

Pearl said other SEC teams that opted for shorter trips to nearby locations rather than traveling to Europe for the offseason excursion allowed by the NCAA once every four years are missing the boat.

“We as coaches talk about education and culture all the time, and that’s why we’re handling this trip in this manner,’’ Pearl said. “I want my players exposed to this kind of thing.’’

Pearl and the Tennessee players will get some exposure in the Middle East, thanks to an Israeli television crew that was in Prague filming for a travel show.

The film crew had Pearl and his players huddle in front of the camera, standing behind the female host, and shout “What is this Prague!’’

Actually, the players are getting a good idea just what the Czech Republic’s capital city is all about.

“This is a melting pot of the European culture,’’ UT sophomore Duke Crews said. “I may not be as into all this architecture now as some people, but I know this is something I’ll always remember.’’

Senior Chris Lofton said he’s been mildly interested with the sightseeing and history.

When asked what it would take for him to get very interested, Lofton replied, “That will happen when I get in the gym.’’

Pearl didn’t need to be in a gym to get recognized by two U.S. fans while walking the courtyard streets outside the Prague Castle.

“I just saw all this orange, and there was Bruce Pearl,’’ said Marty Romano, a real estate agent from Lenoir City who’s vacationing in Prague. “I go to Tennessee games, and I’ll try to see them play here.’’

Allen Shock, from Baltimore, Md., stopped Pearl to get a picture taken with him.

“He’s one of my favorite coaches because of his composure during the games,’’ Shock said. “I also like the camaraderie he has with the female coach (Pat Summitt) there.’’

The Czech natives have largely ignored the Vols’ traveling party, begging the question: “Do they just not like Americans?’’

Pearl said he doesn’t know.

“If you look at the history here, I’m not sure who they would like,’’ Pearl said. “They’ve been ruled by the West, and ruled by the East.

“They say history repeats itself, and look at how many times history has repeated itself in this country.’’

Pearl said his players’ interest in the trip has erased any second thoughts he might have had about picking Eastern Europe for the team trip.

“The guys have been anxious to go and take pictures and ask questions,’’ Pearl said. “They’ve been very attentive in all of the lectures.’’

And Pearl, seemingly ahead of the team at every street corner to point them in the proper direction, has paid close attention to the experience his players are getting.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.