Youth, talent and two shades of orange will clash today at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Tennessee plays Texas at noon in a men's basketball game that will be played before a crowd of more than 20,000 and televised by ESPN. A win for either program would most assuredly mean a return to the Top 25.

UT coach Bruce Pearl served notice to the country that he and his new program were for real last season with a stunning 95-78 upset over then-No. 6 Texas in Austin.

"That was our first signature win,'' Pearl said. "More than anything, it brought our team to understand this is what we're capable of.''

The Vols (9-2) have won five in a row but must learn what they're capable of without the services of starting junior point guard Jordan Howell. He suffered a fracture in his right hand in Thursday's practice and will be out six to eight weeks.

Freshman Ramar Smith slips back into the starting lineup after backing up Howell the past five games.

Smith fits right into the storyline: Texas (8-2) starts four freshmen, while four Tennessee freshmen average 17.1 minutes or more.

"We're two young teams going in the same direction and we're on a collision course,'' said UT freshman post Duke Crews. "We're not intimidated, but we respect them.''

Crews enters today's game coming off his most impressive performance of the season, a 17-point, nine-rebound effort over 15th-ranked and previously unbeaten Oklahoma State.

Texas, however, features a freshman who averages 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in 6-foot-9 forward Kevin Durant.

"Had they not changed the rule involving high school players turning pro, Durant would have likely been the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft,'' Pearl said. "He's a nightmare match-up for us because of our size.''

Durant caused Arkansas fans to lose sleep Wednesday night, scoring 28 points while pulling down 13 rebounds in an 80-76 victory over the Razorbacks in Austin.

Tennessee junior wing JaJuan Smith — who's listed at 6-2 but stands closer to 6-4 — will likely be the prime defender on Durant.

"Most guys don't shoot real well with a guy right on them or underneath them,'' said Smith, whose tied for the team lead with 27 steals. "But you can see watching film Durant is one of the best players in the country, and it's a big opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves defending him.''

Smith made a name for himself against the Longhorns last year, coming off the bench to score what was then a career-high 12 points by draining four of six 3-point attempts.

"That game gave me confidence and showed me I could play with the best of 'em,'' Smith said. "Coach Pearl came to me before the game and said that for us to win, they would need more out of me.

"I need to play well again. Both teams needs this win right now, but it will be even bigger down the road.''

No doubt, the Longhorns and the Vols are looking to pad their resumes for future NCAA Tournament Selection Committee meetings.

While UT has wins over ranked teams Memphis and Oklahoma State, Texas has wins over Arkansas and LSU, having topped the Tigers 76-75 in overtime on Dec. 10 in Houston.

Beating Tennessee would make for an impressive SEC sweep for Longhorns coach Rick Barnes, whose program joins Duke and Connecticut as one of only three to advance to the Sweet 16 four of the past five years.

Barnes knows that to beat the Vols, Texas needs to be conscientious of sharpshooter Chris Lofton and match Tennessee's intensity.

"I don't know if I've seen anybody shoot the ball better than him (Lofton) this year,'' Barnes said. "They're getting a lot out of their guard play, and their post players are relentless rebounders.

"They do a good job of putting spurts on you, scoring six or seven quick points. They get offensive rebounds, they make you turn the ball over and take bad shots and capitalize on that.''

Transition defense and rebounding will be key in a game that figures to play out like a track meet, with both teams a faster pace up and down the court.

"A win would be big for a lot of reasons,'' Lofton said. "I just remember last year when we lost to Oklahoma State after beating Texas, and how that ruined my Christmas break.

"I don't want that to happen again.''