It's been said one key to success is to look the part.

So maybe donning throwback jerseys from Tennessee's Ernie and Bernie Era can help the men's basketball team this season.

UT coach Bruce Pearl said league schools will wear throwback jerseys at the SEC tournament in Nashville, and his Vols will wear them periodically through the season.

"We looked at a lot of them, and the design that was selected was the Ernie and Bernie uniform,'' Pearl said. "It says 'Tennessee Volunteers,' as opposed to just 'Tennessee,' and it has light blue in it. It's really cool.

"We'll wear that uniform on more than just special occasions.''

Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King combined to lead the Vols to a 61-20 record during their three seasons together, 1974-75, 1975-76 and 1976-77.

The throwback uniforms are among many things UT hopes will entice fans to turn out for games.

Pearl said the No. 1 thing the Vols can do to increase attendance is win games.

"This program has been ranked in the Top 25 in attendance the last 25 years,'' Pearl said. "But the team hasn't been ranked in the Top 25 all those years, so we have some catching up to do.''

Pearl said attendance-to-wins ratio is sort of a chicken-egg thing.

"It's like, which has to come first?'' Pearl said. "I know if I win people will come watch us. But then, we need the people there to give us a home-court advantage and win games. I want the fans to be a part of the solution.''

Pearl promises fans will like the Vols' playing style: "It's gonna be intense, and we'll play hard and unselfishly.''

Backcourt: Asked how guard Chris Lofton looks in the new offense, Pearl said, "I'll let you know when he misses his first shot this fall.''

In all seriousness, Pearl believes his offensive sets will make Lofton more effective.

"Because we like to spread things out, he's effective,'' Pearl said. "If he's going to be guarded, he's effective because there's one less person to clog the lane.

"If he's unguarded, he'll catch the ball and shoot it.''

Pearl said the Vols also will use a great deal of ball screens, further freeing up Lofton and point guard C.J. Watson.

"C.J. has to be more aggressive getting off his own shot,'' Pearl said. "I don't think that will be a problem because he doesn't have the pressures of trying to get the ball to Brandon Crump or Scooter (McFagdon).

"Both C.J. and Chris have looked good in our work, along with Major Wingate.''

Pearl's Swamp Take: Here's what Pearl had to say after attending UT's football game at Florida:

"I've been to some tough places to play (basketball), at Duke, Purdue, Owensboro, Ky., and I would say that The Swamp would have to rank in the top two or three places I've been to that were difficult to win because of the crowd noise and the environment.''

Recruiting: Pearl's recruiting stops this week included Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta, Memphis and Milwaukee.

Pearl will attend the wedding of Ken Johnson, UT's director of basketball operations, Sunday in Milwaukee.