Tennessee center Major Wingate would like to think he has a future in the NBA.

Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge already knows he has one waiting for him when he leaves the Longhorns.

It appears Wingate will get a reality check -- for better or worse -- when the Vols (5-0) play at No. 6 Texas at 2 p.m. Saturday in Austin.

How Wingate fares under the basket will go a long way toward determining the outcome, according to UT coach Bruce Pearl.

"Rebounding is the key,'' Pearl said following Wednesday's practice. "Duke and Iowa were the teams able to play with Texas, and both out-rebounded them. We have no chance to win if we get killed on the boards.''

The Longhorns (8-1) are out-rebounding their opponents by an average of 12.7 per game. The Vols, meanwhile, have out-rebounded mid-major competition by 0.2 per game.

Wingate -- who's averaging 3.6 rebounds per game to Aldridge's 9.9 -- smiled when asked if he felt any added pressure.

"A lot is on my shoulders every time we come out,'' said Wingate, who at 6-foot-10 looks Aldridge in the eye while out-weighing him by 13 pounds. "Physically, he can't guard me, and he knows that. We played each other a few times.

"Now, he's as long as ever, and he has the advantage there.''

Wingate said he played with Aldridge during the USA Global Games when he was coming out of high school. Wingate just wishes he could be healthier for this match up.

"I've had a foot, and ankle, a hip and waist,'' Wingate said. "It's a process I'm working through, but my adrenaline usually carries me. When the horn goes off, I don't worry about myself too much.''

Wingate suggested if anyone should be worried or feeling any pressure, it's Aldridge.

"I think of it as a win-win; not many scouts are looking at me, so if I have a good game, my name will be out there,'' Wingate said. "There's more pressure on him than me.''

As for what the rebounding statistics might suggest, Wingate shrugged.

"My main concern is keeping my man off the boards,'' Wingate said. "I don't worry about the numbers.''

Pearl said playing against a projected first-round draft pick like Aldridge is an exciting opportunity he hopes Wingate takes advantage of.

"Aldridge is a first-round pick, and 'Gate is a guy trying to become one,'' Pearl said. "I think he (Wingate) can cover him. This is an opportunity for him (Wingate) to see where he's at.''

Watson Honored: Senior point guard C.J. Watson was named the SEC Player of the Week after scoring a season-high 23 points in UT's come-from-behind win over Appalachian State on Dec. 5.

Watson is the first Vol to win SEC Player of the Week since Ron Slay captured the award in back-to-back weeks during the 2002-03 season.

Playing Tough: Pearl said he was pleased with how the Vols handled his tough practices over the past week.

"We just had three contact practices this last week, and that's a lot,'' Pearl said. "We got through it. I think they stepped up some today.

"But there's no way we can duplicate what we'll see on Saturday.''

Ugly Foot: Neither Andre Patterson nor Wingate get into comparing their post play, so the question of who the better post player is between them has not been addressed.

However, the players did playfully compare bare feet and toes. Patterson admitted he had the uglier foot, saying "it's been stepped on a few times,'' but claimed his good foot is better than either of Wingate's.