Tennessee's upcoming four-game exhibition trip to Italy should carry any number of benefits with it in terms of preparing for the 2012-13 season. One of the most obvious is that the trip--and the extra practice time alloted beforehand--is that the jump-start it allows the Vols' newcomers in making the adjustment to the college game.

Cuonzo Martin's squad returns a largely intact roster from a year ago, with Cameron Tatum the lone departed starter. Added to the new mix this summer are junior college transfer D'Montre Edwards (6-foot-6, 210 pounds) along with freshmen Derek Reese (6-foot-7, 205 pounds) and Armani Moore (6-foot-5, 180 pounds).

The extended summer practice schedule has given the trio an early induction into life in Martin's program, and all three agree it's an adjustment.

Martin himself has repeatedly stated that his biggest goal with the new Vols this summer is to expose them to just how hard they have to compete to make it at this level. It's what the head coach feels, more than an expanded playbook or bigger, faster opponents, is the biggest transition that a young player has to make.

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