Motivation isn't even an issue.

Every time Tennessee basketball players practice, they have visual reminders of Vanderbilt.

"They came in here and embarrassed us," UT senior Scooter McFadgon said. "If there's anybody not ready or prepared to play this one, then they're not ball players.

"After what they did to us, now it's our turn to go down there and get revenge."

Revenge for all those shirts-and-skins practices. Revenge for an 88-63 loss to the Commodores on UT's home floor on Jan. 8.

Tennessee (10-10, 3-4 SEC) hopes payback time comes tonight at Vanderbilt (12-8, 3-4). Tip-off is at 8 EST (TV: UPN).

While motivation isn't an issue, depth is after word came Tuesday the Vols would be even more shorthanded than expected.

Senior Brandon Crump remains out with an ankle sprain and Jemere Hendrix will not play after he received a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules relating to academics.

"I am disappointed that Jemere has let his teammates down like this," UT coach Buzz Peterson said in a release. "I expect our players to uphold their academic responsibilities as basketball players at the University of Tennessee and he has not done that."

Hendrix is averaging 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds off the bench.

His loss just adds to the question of how UT responds to its fifth road trip in the past six games.

The Vols haven't practiced in their official Tennessee practice gear since the Vandy loss. Peterson tried to send a message that pride had to return to the Vols' lineup.

Three weeks later, pride is still an issue as UT tries to snap a three-game losing streak.

"We should be really fired up to play them after what they did to us several weeks ago," Peterson said. "I would hope I don't have to give a big motivational rah-rah speech after last time."

Vanderbilt hit a school-record 18 3-pointers against the Vols in their first meeting.

"That was really disappointing," Peterson said. "That's a team that really caught fire on us.

"I remember going back and watching tape, and I felt we really challenged them on seven of (those 3s). We had hands in their face, but they just shot lights out."

Ironically, the Commodores followed their "lights out" performance at UT with a four-game losing streak.

Unfortunately for the Vols, the Commodores appear to be returning to form just in time for UT's visit.

Vandy ended its losing streak by shooting a season-high 61-percent from the floor in a 73-51 victory against Ole Miss on Saturday.

"It's a tough place to play, but the past three years we've played them pretty good there," Peterson said. "I think we've won 2 of 3 and we always seem to get good support."

UT heads to Nashville trying to shake off the effects of consecutive losses to Louisville, Kentucky and Auburn.

"We haven't given up," McFadgon said. "We know we've got to go down there and get a win."

Tennessee junior transfer Andre Patterson got a crash course on the UT-Vandy rivalry a few weeks ago.

"I kind of learned how big it is," he said. "I'd always heard about the Kentucky rivalry and Florida rivalry, but I didn't really know much about the in-state rivalry.

"That's one you just don't lose to. A 25-point loss on our homecourt, that's enough to get you ready."

Scouting Report: Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings switched his lineup around to try to spark the Commodores against Ole Miss.

Mario Moore came off the bench for the first time this season and Stallings started three freshmen. Vanderbilt responded by reeling off a 19-3 run early in the first half.

Alex Gordon replaced Moore in the lineup and Alan Metcalfe started ahead of senior Dawid Przybyszewski.

Julian Terrell missed the Ole Miss game to be with family after the death of his mother.