LAHAINA, Hawaii - As a smiling Buzz Peterson lobbed up free throws Sunday morning in a beachside fund-raising event, brilliant sunshine illuminated the palm trees as well as, not 50 yards away, the Pacific Ocean.

Talk about a postcard.

Today, the backdrop won't be quite so exotic, nor the atmosphere quite as relaxed.

The Lahaina Civic Center, a 2,400-seat bandbox, will be rocking as a bracket full of college basketball's Who's Who gets the EA Sports Maui Invitational under way.

If it won't be March Madness, it won't be a day at the beach, either.

"It's a business trip,'' Tennessee's Stanley Asumnu said Sunday. "Even though this is a vacation site, we're not here to sightsee.

"We're here to win the tournament.''

Given the caliber of the field, just winning one game in this three-day tournament isn't a gimme for anyone.

The Vols face Stanford (1-0) in an 11:30 p.m. EST start, the fourth and final game of a full slate televised by ESPN2.

The Cardinal, with three starters back from a 30-2 campaign, will be UT's toughest opening foe since the Vols lost to Arizona (73-72) in the Black Coaches Association Classic to launch the 1998-99 season in Albuquerque, N. M. The Cardinal has averaged 25 wins a season the past decade.

"Finally, a real game,'' said UT co-captain Brandon Crump. "I'm excited to see how we're going to do, especially on the road so far from home.

"I want to see how our team is going to react.''

On the road far from home was a bad scenario for the Vols last season. But with five starters and nine lettermen back, joined by transfer Andre Patterson and three hot-shooting freshman guards, Tennessee has its sights set on turning a corner.

Peterson, the Vols' coach, has devoted much of his 33 practices to date on improving his team's defensive toughness, a glaring Achilles' heel last winter.

Stanford, with veteran point guard Chris Hernandez distributing the ball to a posse of big men, will test how far the Vols have come. Peterson knows good defense doesn't come in a microwavable package. It takes time.

"Our half-court man needs a lot of work,'' he said, "but it's early. And our zone has got a ways to go.

"I'm eager to see how we play over a period of time, when our legs get a little tired. Our initial defense can be pretty good, but the biggest thing against Stanford is we've got to box out and not allow second and third opportunities.''

Scouting Report: The Cardinal lost last year's Pac-10 Player of the Year when junior forward Josh Childress turned pro. Hernandez, forward Nick Robinson and center Rob Little are returning starters.

Junior Dan Grunfeld, son of ex-Vol great Ernie Grunfeld, replaces departed Matt Lottich at shooting guard. Grunfeld shot only 22.6 percent from 3-point range last year. Perimeter shooting is questionable for Stanford as former assistant Trent Johnson returns from Nevada to replace coach Mike Montgomery, who left for the Golden State Warriors.

"There will be very subtle changes,'' Johnson said. "The system that's in place, offensively and defensively, has been very successful over the years.

"The bottom line for our team is a lot of guys have to adjust to new roles. We've got a chance to be a solid team, but I don't anticipate all those answers coming this week.''

Lofton Ready: Freshman Chris Lofton sprained an ankle in practice here Saturday but will start tonight. After shooting 13-of-18 in the two exhibition wins over Division II teams, he's aware it won't be that easy this week.

"This is my first true test to see where I am,'' Lofton said. "I was OK in the exhibitions but I wasn't satisfied.

"I hope I do good. If I don't I can see what I need to work on.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.