A college basketball season is such a whirl of activity. So many games. So many possessions. It's impossible to identify a single defining moment.

Thus, as Tennessee's talented freshman class comes of age, there will be numerous defining moments.

Put a check mark by Saturday's 111-105 overtime win over Texas. That was one of them.

Specifically, put a check mark by the overtime period.

Somehow, the Vols overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half and when the buzzer sounded at 89-89, a crowd of 20,778 got itself five bonus minutes.

You'd think by that point both teams would have been exhausted. But they were just getting warmed up.

Tennessee scored 22 points in overtime. It scored on every one of its 11 possessions.

Chris Lofton got UT out of the chute with a 3-pointer. Then the kids took over.

Duke Crews, Ramar Smith and Wayne Chism combined to score 15 of UT's 22 overtime points.

Crews had a dunk. Smith scrambled up a rebound basket and hit just enough free throws to keep the Longhorns at bay.

Chism looked as comfortable as if he were back at Bolivar Central High School. He drilled a 3-pointer to give the Vols a 97-91 lead. He scored two more baskets, the latter making it 105-97 with 54 seconds left.

Everything about this game was big time: the opponent; the crowd; the atmosphere, the ESPN cameras.

And the NBA scouts. They were here, too, although primarily to get a look at a couple of Longhorns.

After last season, three Texas underclassmen left early for the NBA and all three made rosters.

This year, freshman forward Kevin Durant is probably one-and-done in a Texas uniform.

Durant, who scored 26 points, was one of two McDonald's All-Americans on the court, freshman guard D.J. Augustin (20 points) being the other. Freshman Damion James (14 rebounds) was a Parade All-American. Justin Mason (15 points) was the fourth freshman starter for Texas.

So with a little encouragement from coach Bruce Pearl, Tennessee's freshmen played the no-respect card.

Pearl knows his guys know the other guys from the camps and AAU circuit. He knows his guys felt a snub.

"They've got some pride,'' said Pearl. "They know who the 'Diaper Dandies' are and they're not them.''

Smith, Crews and Chism are three of the highest-ranked prep prospects coming into the SEC this season. They weren't, however, anointed by McDonald's.

"That's what every kid's hoping for when he's in high school,'' said Chism.

Added Smith, "That's a lot of motivation, knowing we didn't have any McDonald's All-Americans on our team.

"We've got to do more, work hard and play together. There wasn't nobody going to give us any respect like we thought we should have.''

The Vols are steadily working their way through the 2006 McDonald's roster. North Carolina had three of them in Madison Square Garden. Next month, Ohio State will present three more, including Greg Oden.

ESPN college hoops guru Andy Katz filed an online story Friday headlined: "Elite teams are relying on stud freshmen.''

Texas' guys were mentioned. So were Carolina's and Duke's. So were Kentucky's. Not a peep about the Vols.

The way Crews and Chism stepped up against Oklahoma State and Texas, the way Smith handled his return to the starting lineup at point guard against Texas - nine assists, zero turnovers - they're getting harder and harder to ignore.

"Today,'' said Smith, "we showed everybody we deserve that respect.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.