Gloom, doom gone; Vols don happy faces

Granted, it was just a pickup game. But the recent doom and gloom of Tennessee men's basketball was nowhere to be found.

No refs. No coaches. It was just a bunch of players finding their niche, exploring their roles, and smiling about the influence of new UT coach Bruce Pearl.

"I can't wait to play," senior-to-be point guard C.J. Watson said. "I wish it all started tomorrow.

"I think we're going to surprise a lot of people with our intensity and energy we're going to bring to the court. As long as everybody keeps working on getting better, we'll be fine."

Memories of a disappointing 14-17 season seem to be fading.

In its place is an obvious desire to put Tennessee basketball back on the SEC map.

"Coach Pearl brings winning to the program," freshman guard Chris Lofton said. "He has won his whole life.

"You can tell in his eyes he doesn't want to see failure. He's going to work us hard to make sure he doesn't see failure. He's a winning coach and that's something I always want to be a part of."

Pearl and assistant coach Jason Shay have referred to returnees Stanley Asumnu, Dane Bradshaw and Jemere Hendrix as players making big strides in just a matter of weeks.

"We're making progress," Pearl said. "If those three kids can help bring us some toughness, then that's progress.

"I'm seeing some improvement. I think the work ethic has been consistent and that's what I'm looking for."

Pearl also understands he's still in the "honeymoon" phase of his tenure.

"Everybody's obviously fired up about something new," he said. "They're coming out trying to make good first impressions, so the first few weeks are easy."

The next few months, the dog days of summer and next fall, will be the real proving ground.

Pearl wants that dedication and work ethic to carry over into his first season with the Vols.

Expectations from preseason publications will most likely be subdued at best.

The Vols lose seniors Brandon Crump and Scooter McFadgon, and recently lost touted signee Tyler Smith.

"It was a big blow because we thought he was going to come," Watson said of Smith's decision last week not to attend UT. "But we're just going to move on.

"We can't worry about not getting him. We'll try to get somebody else in and work with what we have. Everybody has come together and we're all helping each other."

Hendrix is almost excited about the ho-hum expectations facing the Vols.

"I'm glad people are looking at us like that," he said. "There are a lot of teams that go from the bottom of the totem pole all the way to the top when they get a new coach and everybody is amazed.

"I know we have the talent, and now we have to right coach who is going to push us. It's all set up to be a beautiful story with a great ending my senior year."

Thomas To Visit: Maurice Thomas, a 6-foot-8 forward from Philadelphia Lutheran Academy, is expected to visit Knoxville this weekend.

Thomas has offers from UNLV and Texas El Paso. He's also considering Wake Forest and North Carolina.