Pit isn't easy spot for Vols

A historically soft road team - the Vols - visiting a historically tough gym - The Pit.

That's the scenario tonight, when the Vols (4-3) drop in on New Mexico (9-1). Tip-off is 9:30 EDT (TV: CSS).

"It's going to be a tough game,'' conceded UT senior Brandon Crump. "It's going to be a really different environment than we've played in.''

Tennessee is attempting a fresh road start and for good reason. Last year, the Vols won only once away from Thompson-Boling Arena, at Massachusetts. Of 12 games outside Knoxville they went 1-11 and just two of the losses were by fewer than 10 points.

They opened this season with a nice win over Stanford in the Maui Invitational, but that was a neutral setting. New Mexico's home court is anything but neutral.

First, there's the altitude - roughly 5,300 feet above sea level. Try playing hoops in the parking lot at Clingman's Dome and you get the idea.

Then there's the noise. Lobo fans are among college basketball's most rabid.

The layout of The Pit is also unsettling. The court is 37 feet below street level - about three stories down. Visitors must run up and down a long, steep ramp to and from the floor.

"You drive up and it's like a one-story building,'' said UT coach Buzz Peterson. "Then you walk down and it's the longest walk from the locker room to the floor.

"I may have to get a golf cart for my (aching) knee.''

The fact that the Lobos usually field a strong team should not be overlooked. They've been to either the NCAA or NIT 18 of the past 21 years (but neither of the past two).

This year's team features 6-foot-8 senior Danny Granger, a likely first-round NBA draft pick averaging 18.7 points a game.

Earlier this week, the Lobos led the nation in field-goal percentage at 53.0 and their average victory margin is 20.0. New Mexico's only loss was at Oregon.

"People are giving them a hard time about their schedule,'' said Peterson, "but when you're 9-1, you're 9-1.''

In fact, a closer look suggests the Vols can pull off a road victory if they play well.

New Mexico's schedule has, indeed, been loaded with cream puffs. The RPI at cbssportsline.com ranks it 287th in difficulty among 326 Division I teams. Tennessee's is 80th.

Among the Lobos' victims, only Santa Clara (149) and New Mexico State (121) are in the RPI top 175. One win was against a non-Division I team and another against a program making the transition to D-I.

Furthermore, The Pit, while a distinct home-court advantage, isn't the impregnable fortress it used to be.

Over the past five years (plus this season), the Lobos are 74-28 in The Pit, a 72.5 winning percentage. During the same span, the Vols have won 79.5 percent of their games in Thompson-Boling Arena, hardly considered an intimidating venue to visitors.

In the past two years, non-marquee visitors such as Portland, Air Force, Pepperdine and Southern Utah have won in The Pit.

"I've heard it's pretty hard to win there, but I know we can go in there and do it,'' said UT's C.J. Watson. "It's up to us to do it.''

Doing so will require Tennessee's best effort of the season. The Vols must duplicate the offensive discipline they showed in wins over Xavier and Alabama State and still have energy to ratchet up the defense.

"We've got to play together as a team,'' said Crump, "and we've got to play good defense.

"Most teams that win on the road really play good defense.''

The Lone Granger: Peterson said New Mexico's Granger reminds him of ex-Vol Marcus Haislip, an inside-outside threat only with more skills. UT will rotate defenders on Granger, including Jemere Hendrix.

"I just want to make him work for every shot,'' said Hendrix, "just get him out of his game.''

Been There: The Vols have lost close calls in their two prior visits to The Pit: 83-80 to New Mexico in December, 1990, and 73-72 to Arizona in the 1998 BCA Classic. UT traveled on Thursday, hoping an extra day's acclimation to the altitude will help. The Vols hustle home to play Belmont on Monday.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.