If Tennessee's men's basketball team is ranked in the top 25 today, coach Bruce Pearl said he'd be surprised.

"I don't think we can get there,'' said Pearl, whose Vols ran their record to 6-0 with a 95-78 win over No. 6 Texas Saturday in Austin. "You have to look at how the teams in the top 25 did last week, and we weren't even receiving votes.

"I think we'll be a team receiving votes. It's great just to be talking about it.''

The last time Tennessee was ranked in the top 25 was the final week of February in 2001, when former coach Jerry Green had UT at No. 22.

The Vols are one of 15 undefeated teams and rank sixth in the Sagarin ratings - highest among SEC teams - and 33rd in the RPI.

"I'd love to get ranked because it would help us with recruiting,'' Pearl said. "But my big thing now is moving forward. I watched tape of Oklahoma State today and that will bring you down to Earth quickly. They'll be the best defensive team and most athletic team we've faced.''

The Vols play the Cowboys (7-3) at 6 p.m. Thursday in Oklahoma City.

Pearl has accepted congratulatory phone calls from a number of dignitaries, including former UT All-American Ernie Grunfeld. But just as he'll tell his players today, it's time to move on.

"I can handle that because I'm 45 and been there and done that before,'' Pearl said. "The kids haven't done that. I have to make sure we're focused on the future.''

Another Look: Pearl said he had a feeling the Vols would beat Texas after the opening moments of the second half.

Tennessee held a 48-28 lead entering the final 20 minutes, but Pearl told his team to approach the second half as though it were trailing.

"We talked about being down 10,'' Pearl said, asked for the gist of his half time speech. "I said, 'we're down 10, and lets approach halftime that way.' ''

Pearl's motivational tactic, coupled with a new play inserted for the game, worked.

Knowing Texas would overplay his guards, Pearl drew up a play designed to free up C.J. Watson.

Sure enough, Watson scored twice to open the second half, cutting to the basket, receiving passes, and laying the ball in.

Just like that, Tennessee's lead was 52-28 and Texas coach Rick Barnes found himself calling timeout 45 seconds into the second half.

The Past: Pearl concedes it'll be tough for the Vols to match the Texas performance.

"You just look at the game and break it down,'' he said. "Watson was flawless, Chris Lofton outstanding, Major (Wingate) didn't allow LaMarcus Aldridge to score a basket on him, JaJuan Smith had the best game of his career, (Ryan) Childress the best of his career, Andre Patterson didn't miss a shot, Jordan Howell buries a three and Dane Bradshaw did his thing with the intensity.''

Mr. Jones: UT's confidence entering the Texas game might have come from associate head coach Tony Jones, who said last week the Vols would "shock the world.''

"I knew we'd use the same philosophy we had (at Wisconsin-Milwaukee) for the wins against Alabama and Boston College last year,'' Jones said. "Play physical and knock down the threes. With our offense being spread out, it opens up a lot of good looks. JaJuan got us started making those momentum threes early.''

Stat Glance: The Vols rank first in the SEC in: scoring (88.2), free-throw shooting (.703), 3-point field goal percentage (.443), steals (11.33 per game), turnover margin (plus-8.83 per game), assist/turnover ratio (1.34) and 3-pointers made.

They are last in scoring defense (71.5), field goal percentage defense (.456), 3-point defense (.398) and rebounding margin (-1.8 per game).

"That's absolutely amazing,'' Pearl said. "The points per game allowed don't bother me. We're going to score a lot of points and give up a lot; as long as I score more than you, I don't care.

"The thing that bothers me is our field goal percentage defense and 3-point defense.''

Pearl said the rebounding margin is an indication of the depth issues the team faces along the front line.

"Let's face it, we often have four guards out there playing,'' he said. "Sometimes that makes for good match ups, sometimes not.''

Orange Slices: The win over Texas was Tennessee's second on the road against current Big 12 teams, the other being a 64-63 win over Colorado in 1981. The 95 points is the most Barnes has given up in the Erwin Center and the team's most lopsided home loss in five years. Stanley Asumnu, who hails from Houston, had 27 family members in attendance Saturday.