Thompson-Boling Arena has inspired a myriad of complaints over the years.

It's too big. It's too empty. It's too dead.

The parking stinks. All the good seats are taken by the fat cats who seldom show up. The students are apathetic. The ushers are surly. You just don't feel welcome.

Yada-yada.

Imagine a fan's surprise Friday night.

First, they watch Tennessee win a rip-roaring basketball season-opener, 106-83 over East Tennessee State.

Then, when they get up to leave, somebody's on the concourse shaking their hand, actually thanking them for coming.

And, get this, that somebody is Stanley Asumnu.

And Chris Lofton. And C.J. Watson. And Major Wingate, etc.

"Yeah, they were kind of surprised,'' said Asumnu. "That was a lot of fun.''

The corny old line goes, Dane Bradshaw did this, did that, did everything. He even sold popcorn at halftime.

Bradshaw did not, in fact, sell popcorn at halftime. But he did score a career-high 13 points, rustle up a career-high 12 rebounds and then rush up into the stands after the final horn and thank the fans for coming out to support the team.

"I think they really appreciated it,'' Bradshaw said. "And scoring over a hundred points and really playing hard, that will keep them coming back.''

On opening night of the Bruce Pearl era, the paid attendance was 21,280. Actual fannies in the seats? Probably between 16,000 and 18,000.

UT gave away or made available at discount several thousand tickets. Good for them.

That put bodies in the nosebleed seats. Down courtside, the stand-and-deliver student section at the end zone by the UT bench was full and stayed busy to the end.

One of the students was none other than Jemere Hendrix, the senior dismissed from the squad for running afoul of team rules.

Hendrix didn't slink into civilian status. He stood tall behind the cheerleaders holding up a white t-shirt with an inscription:

"I'm sorry team, I'm sorry fans, I'm sorry Coach Pearl, I'm sorry Mike Hamilton. I am my brother's keeper.''

On the back: "Please forgive me.''

That was only one of the unusual sights on Pearl's official opening night.

Bradshaw's double-double was another. The 6-foot-3 junior guard isn't in over his head playing forward in Pearl's system.

On the contrary, he's thriving in it.

"We don't have a lot of depth,'' Bradshaw said, "so everybody needs to be on top of their game.''

And what about Asumnu's box score?

A career-high 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. He put up better numbers on Pearl's first night than he did on any of his 83 nights under coach Buzz Peterson.

"This is me,'' said Asumnu, as if that was all the explanation necessary.

"The (past) couple of years I was here, that wasn't me,'' he added. "You all didn't get a chance to see who I really am and what I'm capable of doing.''

If Asumnu is capable of doing this more often, if Bradshaw continues to thrive, perhaps the Vols won't be as overmatched as predicted in Pearl's maiden voyage.

"I like having those guys out there,'' said Pearl.

"What a wonderful night for Stanley. He and (Bradshaw) are such good kids to root for. Everybody in the building is happy to see them out there, playing and shooting and being a big part of the team.''

Finally, there was no stranger sight than the last one. Players and coaches dashing off the court, up the stairs to the concourse.

"When I saw the numbers (tickets sold) this afternoon,'' said Pearl, "I told my wife, win or lose, we need to do this.''

Winning made it easier.

"I was just shaking as many hands as I could,'' Asumnu said, "telling them thank you for coming out. We need you, day in and day out. Bring a friend.

"We want it to be like this every night.''

It won't be. Not every night. But as starting points go, no complaints.

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