Entering a stretch of four marquee games a couple of weeks ago, Bruce Pearl told his basketball team he'd take 3-1 and go happily into the holiday break.

Today he's singing a different carol.

Memphis, Western Kentucky and Oklahoma State have become notches on Tennessee's belt. The Vols are a Texas-sized win today away from a sweep.

"Of course, I'm greedy," Pearl said Friday. "I want all four.''

He'd still feel pretty good about 3-1, mind you, but 4-0 is on the table.

And if there were any chance of the Vols becoming too full of themselves, a new challenge has presented itself — one that should help maintain a hungry edge.

Tennessee learned Friday a fractured hand will sideline point guard Jordan Howell, probably until February.

In the giddiness of welcoming a ballyhooed freshman class to campus last fall, Howell might have been voted the most-expendable Vol.

The reality, however, has been that the junior, a career reserve, was a steadying influence. When Howell replaced freshman Ramar Smith in the starting lineup five games ago, the Vols became more efficient. And they have won their biggest games.

Now Howell is out of the mix. Smith returns to the starting lineup today and Pearl is anxious to see how the chips fall.

Smith claims to be the wiser for having come off the bench since the humbling Thanksgiving trip to Madison Square Garden.

"I'm real comfortable after watching the way Jordan Howell played the position,'' Smith said.

"You learn a lot. Things are coming easier.''

But not that easy.

Point guard is tough and is still a new fit to Smith. He played the position only "off and on" in high school and AAU ball.

"I'd bring the ball up,'' he said, "but it wasn't like no set plays or nothing.''

Pearl isn't expecting Instant John Stockton. After all, Smith's turnovers (13) continued to outweigh his assists (7) during his five-game run off the bench.

Yet Pearl agrees yielding the starting assignment was a plus for Smith.

"Ramar has changed in the sense he's become a much better practice player,'' Pearl said. "He's paying closer attention to detail.''

But Smith isn't going to be Instant C.J. Watson any more than Instant John Stockton. He can't be expected to run the offense for 35 minutes a game.

After weighing two no-Howell scenarios, Pearl decided on the one that shared the burden most evenly.

Thus, freshman Marques Johnson remains a redshirt candidate, in part due to a hip condition that requires physical therapy.

"We'll keep him ready,'' Pearl said. "He could play if he had to.''

Dane Bradshaw, who plays forward on defense, will play more point on offense. This will not be a great departure. Bradshaw leads the team in assists anyway. He also had MRIs on both shoulders this week.

The more minutes Bradshaw gets at the point, the more to be divided down low among Duke Crews, Wayne Chism and Ryan Childress.

Chism and Crews might even play side-by-side on occasion. To date, they've done so only twice. Tony Passley, a wing who had fallen out of the rotation, will start learning the four spot next week.

"I feel like if we spread out the responsibility, we'll feel Jordan's loss less,'' said Pearl.

Perhaps, but there's no disguising the fact that Smith is back on the front burner.

That might mean a few more turnovers. On the other hand, Smith brings an arsenal of skills to the table. If he uses them productively, the positives outweigh the negatives.

Is it asking too much that it all comes together for Smith today, against an opponent as talented as Texas?

Go for it. As long as you're feeling greedy.