About a year ago, Bruce Pearl was off to a shaky start as Tennessee's new men's basketball coach. One of the state's top players, Tyler Smith, had backed out of his commitment to the Vols; his father saying that Pearl had been dishonest with him.

Smith's pal, Jamont Gordon, also fell by the wayside. He was upset that Pearl didn't visit his mother on one of the coach's trips to Middle Tennessee (never grasping that the Buzz Peterson regime has already used up all of the Vols' in-home visits on the kid).

"This Yankee can't recruit the state," some said. Questions were asked. "Why tell Matthew Dotson that he can't play at UT?" "Why bring in this Scott Edgar guy when he can hold on to one of Peterson's coaches for continuity sake?" "Did UT promise that Philadelphia kid a scholarship or not?"

Well there aren't a whole lot of questions being asked now. That's what the best one-year turnaround in modern Tennessee basketball history will do. Heck, this is one of the most-remarkably quick and complete turnarounds that I've ever heard of.

I mean Moses worked several miracles to lead the Israelites out of bondage and into freedom. One day a slave, the next day free. That's a darn good turnaround.

But Pearl made it rain down 3-pointers and called forth swarms of full-court defenders this year (which Vol fans would probably take over frogs and locusts). And I doubt that the Vols will be wandering for 40 years before their next tournamenttrip.

Pearl even parted the Black Curtains at Thompson-Boling Arena, which might have been his single-greatest feat. At this point, there are probably some who would think that if he threw down his orange suspenders they might just slither off.

Folks said it would take a miracle-worker to revive Tennessee basketball. But who would have guessed that anyone could have accomplished so much so quickly?

Thompson-Boling Arena Then: As much an empty cave as the empty caves it was built over. It was viewed as an albatross for any coach heading up the UT program.

Thompson-Boling Arena Now: A selling point. Super recruit Ramar Smith even mentioned the arena as a reason to come to UT. At long last, Don DeVoe can finally say, "See, I told you that arena was a good idea." (And he does, by the way.)

Attendance Then: Two words for you ... "dadgum popcorn." Tennessee wasn't selling enough of it because no one was in the gym. This was a football town first and foremost.

Attendance Now: The heck, you say. UT fans flocked to Thompson-Boling and brought down the aforementioned Black Curtains of Shame. More impressively, they didn't sit on their hands, either. For the first time in years, Tennessee had a real homecourt advantage.

Practice Facility Then: As Peterson left town last year, he insinuated that a new practice facility was something that he'd been promised, too. In other words, don't hold your breath, Bruce.

Practice Facility Now: Amazing how an SEC East title, a top-20 finish and a great recruiting class can open up wallets isn't it? The new facility is no longer a lure. It's a reality.

Fan Interest Then: A year ago, Vol fans were more concerned with whether or not they would fire yet another coach than they were with the wins and losses of the team.

Fan Interest Now: Granted, a 5-6 football season left Vol fans hungry for success, but it was on-court wins and effort that helped keep UT basketball the top story in town. Has the Orange and White Game ever taken a backseat to talk of basketball recruiting?

Fan Confidence Then: The standard-thought bubble floating over a Vol fans' head last year was filled with the words, "they'll find a way to lose."

Fan Confidence Now: "They'll find a way to win." Heck, to even suggest that the Vols might just possibly, on an off-night, lose was enough to get rocks thrown in your direction. (I think I was stoned more times this year than Jim Morrison in Paris).

Recruiting Then: Vol commitments were being lured away by Auburn. How bad must things be for kids to back out on Tennessee so they can go to Auburn? Yeesh.

Recruiting Now: The most-hyped and highly ranked class in UT history has signed on the dotted line and will probably rank in every guru's top-5 list nationally.

Scheduling Then: Belmont. Chattanooga. Wofford. The Citadel. A decent team in 2004 failed to make the NCAA tournament in part because of Tennessee's near-70 RPI ranking.

Scheduling Now: NCAA teams Texas, Memphis and Xavier are all on deck next year. The preseason NIT is on the card, too. That helps the RPI. And the Vols' top-10 RPI this past year helped land them a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance.

Brand of Ball Then: One week, "pound it inside." The next week, "fire up the 3s." Vol fans never knew what to expect from Peterson. There was no UT "style."

Brand of Ball Now: Pressure defense. Run. Gun from 3-point range. That's what the Vols do. Every game. Every week. The players know it. Recruits know it.

National Name Then: "Mud." Remember the talk of Tennessee being one of the worst jobs in the country? Remember national analysts asking why Pearl would take such a "no win" job?

National Name Now: Pearl and the Vols were all over ESPN this year. The Jim Rome Show, Sports Illustrated, CBS. They all flocked to Pearl. Peterson was a good guy. Pearl is a good guy ... to have on your TV or radio show.

Sometimes I look at my waist and am amazed at the difference a year can make. Same thing with Tennessee basketball over the past 12 months. Only the basketball changes have been a lot less painful to watch. What a difference a year can make.