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ATLANTA — The Tennessee men’s basketball team returned to the U.S. Sunday afternoon.

The Vols needed two hours to get through U.S. Customs after touching down at Hartsfield International Airport at 5 p.m. The Delta flight from Vienna, Austria, took 10-and-a-half hours.

“This was a great experience for all of the players, but they’re all happy to be home,’’ said Ken Johnson, the Director of UT basketball operations. “School gets started this week, and the guys have got to be ready.’’

The Vols bus back to Knoxville from Atlanta was expected to arrive on campus at approximately 11 p.m.

Johnson said the UT players represented themselves in an exemplary fashion, with no tardiness nor curfew violations.

“Everyone took care of their business,’’ Johnson said. “There was a lot of team bonding, with guys getting to know each other better.’’

Number One: Senior JaJuan Smith said his days wearing the No. 1 are over.

“I wanted to switch from No. 2 to No. 1, but my momma wouldn’t let me, she said she had too much No. 2 stuff,’’ Smith said. “My cousin Vincent (Yarbrough) switched from No. 22 to No. 1 his final year and I wanted to keep that in the family.’’

Instead, another Smith — incoming transfer Tyler Smith — will wear the No. 1 this season.

Chris Who?: UT guard Chris Lofton had to laugh after a customs inspector asked him if he was with the team.

“He asked me if I started, because I seemed small,’’ Lofton said, laughing. “I told him I did, and he didn’t believe me.’’

Lofton was also approached by a Kentucky fan, who apologized to him and told Lofton he was behind him.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.