Pearl says fans merit a winner

"They expect to win here at Tennessee, and they win at everything,'' Pearl said. "And they don't just win; they win championships.''

Pearl isn't predicting a title his first season, but he vows to put a competitive team on the floor that will know and adhere to his controlled chaos.

At least, they'd better if the Vols hope to stay close in games with Kentucky and recently scheduled opponents Oklahoma State and Texas this season.

"A lot of people had an opportunity to play Oklahoma State and Texas, but there weren't many callers because those programs are at the top (and) people didn't want to schedule a loss,'' Pearl said. "The thing they have in common, is they're both on ESPN. If we're going to get back into the national spotlight, we've got to get ourselves back on TV.''

Oklahoma State will play a return game with UT in Nashville or Memphis in 2006-07, while Texas will play in Thompson Boling Arena in 2006-07. Hamilton is negotiating the Oklahoma State game for Fed Ex Forum or the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

The Vols will play Murray State at the Gaylord Entertainment Center this year. Pearl said there are a couple of reasons UT is playing the early season non-conference game there.

"It's all about the SEC Tournament,'' Pearl said. "So to get the team on the floor there earlier in the season is vital. We'll spend the night where we'll spend the night at the SEC Tournament, and it should make playing there a second time more comfortable.

"Secondly, going to Nashville extends our fan base. We wanted to play a good Ohio Valley team. That conference is centered around Nashville.''

Pearl said getting competitive with the Wildcats is near the top of his list of priorities, as well.

"People are anxious to get back to the day when we used to be Kentucky's rival,'' Pearl said. "No team in the SEC has beat Kentucky as many times as us. We beat Kentucky 62 times; the next closest team is Vanderbilt at 38.

"Losing nine out of the last 10 to Kentucky is obviously not as competitive as we need to be,'' Pearl said. "As an outsider looking in, if you asked me who Kentucky's rival is in the East, I'd say Florida because that's the team that's been challenging them in the East. It is what it is.''

Rivalry II?: In addition to Kentucky, UT enthusiasts have enjoyed rivalries with Vanderbilt and Alabama.

However, Vandy coach Kevin Stallings and Alabama coach Mark Gottfried seem downright chummy with Pearl.

"I've known Bruce for a long time, and his team was very, very impressive at Wisconsin-Milwaukee,'' Stallings said. "I was watching his son (Steven) play the other day at a recruiting event. I was going to ask Bruce if we could recruit him, but I was afraid that would be an illegal contact.''

Pearl chuckled when hearing of Stallings' comments.

"I'd love to have a son at Vanderbilt,'' Pearl said. "One, it's a great school, and two, if that's the best they could get, they'd be in trouble.''

Gottfried predicted Pearl would "jump start'' UT.

"He's an excellent coach ... I think Bruce is going to do a great job,'' said Gottfried, whose team was upset by Pearl's Wisconsin-Milwaukee squad in last year's NCAA tourney. "Their style will be a little different for people in our league.''

Pearl said Gottfried is one reason he didn't coach in the state of Tennessee earlier.

"I was once a finalist for the head coaching job at Middle Tennessee,'' Pearl said. "I withdrew when I looked at what Mark was doing at that time at Murray State, because the OVC only got one NCAA bid a year, and I felt that would be Murray for a few years.''