Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl’s not ready to say he coaches a top 20 program, even if the final NCAA men’s basketball poll of the season indicates that.

The Vols are ranked No. 20 in the final USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll. Pearl said his team earned the ranking with its 22-8 record, but it’s still premature to say UT basketball has completely arrived.

"Until we do it with some consistency, we’re not a top-20 program,’’ Pearl said Wednesday. "But we had a top 20 season, and our fan base is in the top five.’’

The Vols, SEC East Division champions and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, finished fifth in the nation in home attendance.

Pearl was named The Sporting News national coach of the year, and he parlayed his popularity into an appearance as a CBS analyst at the Final Four.

"It was a great experience, and I hope I represented Tennessee and the athletic program well,’’ said Pearl, who correctly picked Florida to beat UCLA and win the national championship. "It’s the kind of thing I have to do to get our program the same visibility higher profile coaches get.’’

Pearl said picking the Gators to win was a "no-brainer.’’

"Florida had one of the all-time great single-game performances I’ve ever seen in a championship game,’’ he said. "All their players played to their strengths, and Billy (Donovan) coached a brilliant game.’’

Lofton’s Take: UT shooting guard Chris Lofton said he took no satisfaction out of seeing Florida win the national title.

"It makes losing even harder to swallow,’’ said Lofton, who helped the Vols win both meetings against the Gators. "It was our dream to win the national title.’’

Lofton said watching the NCAA tournament was not a good experience.

"It was especially hard for me,’’ Lofton said. "You could say I still blame myself for us losing.’’

Visitors: Detroit King High School guard Ramar Smith will come to UT on an official visit this weekend if his mother’s health allows it. He is the only official visitor.

Smith’s mother has been battling an undisclosed illness. If the 6-foot-3 Smith doesn’t come this weekend, he would likely re-schedule his visit to UT. The spring signing period starts next Wednesday.

Cameron Tatum, a 6-5 wing who originally committed to North-Carolina Charlotte, is also coming to UT this weekend on an unofficial visit. Tatum has yet to qualify academically and could spend a year in prep school before playing Division I.

Pearl’s Moves: Pearl will be in Portsmouth, Va., today to attend the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, an annual NBA tryout camp being held this weekend.

Former Vol C.J. Watson and former Wisconsin-Milwaukee player Joah Tucker are among the 64 participants.

East Tennessee State guard Tim Smith is on Watson’s team at the tournament, which will be attended by more than 200 NBA representatives.