LAHAINA, Hawaii - Tennessee came to Maui to swim with some of college basketballs big sharks, so to speak. Inevitably, the Vols headed home Thursday bearing some distinctive bite marks.

But none, they insisted, that were fatal.

The Vols were booked into a powerhouse EA Sports Maui Invitational tournament field before Buzz Peterson was hired in 2001. Still, he welcomed the challenge of seeing where his veteran team stacked up.

Handling a solid Stanford team in the opening round was a good start. However, when the Vols stepped up in class against North Carolina and Texas, weaknesses were glaringly exposed.

The 11th-ranked Tar Heels and 15th-ranked Longhorns combined to light up UT (1-2) for 189 points, an average of 94.5.

It was particularly difficult to put any positive spin on the 95-70 rout the Longhorns inflicted Wednesday.

"Coach says he wants to put all the losses on him because he ain't prepared us,'' said sophomore Major Wingate, "but we need to step up and take responsibility for ourselves.''

Peterson would welcome the players taking responsibility if it leads to improvement. He left the Lahaina Civic Center reminding everyone a long campaign has only just begun.

"We played a very physical team in Texas and a very fast team in North Carolina, and Stanford's going to get better and better,'' Peterson said. "We can learn from experience and, hopefully, carry it over during the season.''

The season resumes Monday night when Wofford visits Thompson-Boling Arena. Eight of the Vols' next nine games will be at home.

And Louisville, Kentucky and Florida, etc., not withstanding, it's unlikely Tennessee will face another opponent as talented as North Carolina or, for that matter, Texas.

The Heels and the Horns were too athletic, too physical and too laden with McDonald's All-Americans.

The three Maui opponents combined to shoot 50.8 percent against the Vols. They also out-rebounded UT 109-89.

Worse, Tennessee's turnovers more than doubled its assists, 57-27.

The Vols killed Stanford with transition baskets, but the Tar Heels and Longhorns scored a combined 55 points off UT turnovers.

The above numbers add up to a review of how the Vols are going to proceed in the month leading up to SEC play.

"We're going to focus on what we're going to do on the offensive end,'' Peterson said.

"Are we going to go to a half-court game or push it? Because we're giving the other team so many opportunities when we push the ball.''

The Vols better get focused on the defensive end as well. They were incapable of stopping either the Tar Heels or Longhorns.

As for the players, they didn't enjoy the results, but they enjoyed competing with marquee opponents.

"It doesn't hurt our confidence,'' said Stanley Asumnu. "What I think it does is help us grow.

"We know we're a good team. We've just got to touch up on some areas and, like coach says, give it all we've got for 40 minutes, especially on the defensive end.''

Freshman Report: The arrival of three freshman guards figured to boost UT's perimeter shooting. Chris Lofton was 10-of-19 from 3-point range in the tournament, and he wasn't 100 percent. Lofton said the ankle he sprained in practice on Saturday hampered his movement. Jordan Howell was 2-of-10 and JaJuan Smith 1-of-5 on 3-point shots.

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