Strange: If Pearl listens, he can get booed at Rupp

Wisconsin-Milwaukee ran out of upsets Thursday night. Where Alabama and Boston College had fallen to ambush along the March Madness trail, Illinois was made of sterner stuff.

Against the No. 1-ranked Illini, UWM was in over its head, a mid-major pitted against a major-league juggernaut.

"We needed to play our best basketball to beat them and we didn't do that,'' said coach Bruce Pearl.

"But these players have taken this university and the city of Milwaukee on a ride it will not soon forget.''

The upshot of a 77-63 loss to Illinois is that Tennessee's coaching search can now move forward and approach the man who is, arguably, its most attractive candidate.

A 14-point defeat in the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 round shouldn't tarnish Pearl's credentials in the least. Playing the nation's top-ranked team on what amounted to an Illinois home court, it was a simple case of Pearl's overachievers being overextended.

A heroic, 32-point effort by Joah Tucker kept Milwaukee respectable. As for his teammates, not a one could squeeze a foot into the glass sneaker.

"I thought we had the opportunity to shock the world,'' said Tucker. "We had the weapons to do it if we played well.''

This world was orange and blue.

Crammed into every nook and cranny - actor Bill Murray had a front-row seat behind the bench - the Illinois partisans greeted Pearl's entrance into Allstate Arena with a lusty boo, then hoisted another one when he was introduced.

"Hey Pearl Record This" read one sign held high by an Illini fan, a reference to a 16-year-old recruiting incident that earned Pearl lifetime membership on the Illini's enemies list.

"You think this is the first building I ever got booed in?'' Pearl said. "And hopefully, it's not the last.''

Pearl called on Milwaukee's vaunted full-court pressure only selectively. Illinois was too good, too mobile and hardly needed any encouragement to pick up the tempo.

Though the Panthers were within striking distance - 70-61 - with 4 minutes to play, there was never any threat that lightning was actually going to strike.

Illinois, a winner 34 times in 35 tries, always had the big play when one was needed to keep the Panthers at bay.

"They never let you relax,'' said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. "They are persistent and you have to match that.''

And now, in the aftermath, Tennessee should be persistent in its evaluation of Pearl.

The man can coach a system that puts opponents on their heels. Attack is the order of the day on both ends of the court.

"It's nothing tricky,'' Pearl said earlier in the week, "but it's a way to get your kids to play hard.

"And if you're an underdog, pressing gives your kids a psychological advantage.''

He knows how to evaluate talent, effectively picking through the pool of leftovers and second-chance cases available to the mid-majors.

"I want tough guys,'' Pearl said. "Being a tough guy is something you can recognize.

"When they're not tough, you can recognize that as well.''

Finally, he has the energy and savvy to promote a program.

"It's been a lot of fun,'' said Pearl of the NCAA tournament joyride. "I love to work.''

But where will he work next season?

In the postgame press conference Pearl noted he has a strong team back next year and spoke of continuing Milwaukee's dominance in its league.

And yet he realizes his coaching star is at a zenith that will be difficult to reach again.

As fond as he is of Milwaukee, when Tennessee talks, Pearl should listen. And if Tennessee doesn't go after Pearl with all its cards, it would be a mistake.

This is a guy capable of getting booed in Rupp Arena some day.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.