Sooner or later, it had to happen.

Tennessee's basketball team has a tough game on the road against a hot-shooting team.

It wasn't a matter of Bruce Pearl losing his magic or Chris Lofton losing his touch.

It's the nature of basketball. Sometimes the shots fall (Bama 26-of-28 from the free throw line), and sometimes they don't.

So the Vols drop to 19-4 overall and 10-2 in the SEC.

So what? Florida lost, too, and that means Tennessee still has what amounts to a 2-1/2-game lead in the SEC East Division.

A win in Gainesville Wednesday, and all is forgiven.

Shoot, even with a loss, the Vols are in good shape, provided they win at home against Arkansas Saturday and knock off either Kentucky (home) or Vanderbilt in the regular season ender in Nashville in a couple of weeks.

Bottom line, Tennessee is headed to the NCAA Tournament, probably with a No. 4 seeding or better.

If the Vols play well, they could reach the Final Eight.

It all depends what hot-shooting teams lie ahead, and which way the ball bounces.

Q: Mike, you are a class act on the morning talk radio segments. You know your stuff, maintain integrity and refuse to follow the prevailing party line. Keep up the good work.

Signed,

Not a redneck.

welchmj@charter.net

GRIFF: Thanks for the compliment. Mickey Dearstone likes to test me on the morning Sports Animal, but it's all in fun. I like being challenged by the hosts and the callers. It keeps me humble and on my toes. Don't we all need a bit of that from time to time?

Q: To say that Chris Lofton's story begins and ends on the Basketball court is very misgiving. It was the first misgivings of many in your article "Lofton Simplified".

To say that Chris Lofton is boring is wrong. So What? His favorite foods are mashed potatoes and chocolate chip cookies.

Chris Lofton showed character when he refused to put Kentucky down just to make a good "In-your-face" story.

Lofton was gracious in his victory against Kentucky. He showed understanding in Kentucky's reasons for not recruiting him.

He showed good sportsmanship by not having an "I-told-you-so" attitude.

Chris sounds like he knows what he wants and is determined to make it happen.

To say he doesn't get excited over anything makes me think he's very stable and level headed.

To say Chris Lofton is boring is very sad. Try saying "role model.'' In today's world when a lot of athletes are "in your face, my way or no way."

I think an athlete like Chris Lofton deserves a better word. We should be very thankful Chris Lofton plays for Tennessee.

Boring? No. Role model? YES!

worthington3547@bellsouth.net

GRIFF: I don't recall anything in the article having a negative tone. From my viewpoint, it was a positive feature. I think you might have missed the point.

Q: Great article on "Lofton Simplified." I appreciate the professionalism of your writing along with the illustrations and analysis.

I also like the way you handle yourself with Doc and Jeff and keep them on their toes at the Sports Animal.

Keep up the great work.

Sincerely,

Bob in JaJuan Smith country

bobad2@athenstnha.com

GRIFF: You mean you weren't offended I mentioned Chris liking mashed potatoes and chocolate chip cookies, and him not chewing gum?

Bob, you've got a pretty good one there in JaJuan Smith, too.

The fun thing about this team is these guys are all pretty level-headed, and that makes them fun to work with.

Q: OK, what's the deal with all those free throw opportunities for the Lady Vols? Come on: 32 opportunities to Vandy's 7?

Looks like the refs help Summitt out again at her "House" and gave Pat's husband a birthday gift. Even the pro-Tennessee ESPN commentators saw this discrepancy. That would have never happened anywhere else.

That's the ONLY way those Vols girls won. Give half as many free throw opportunities to Vandy and the Lady Vols would be out two games in a row at home and the SEC. That game was stolen from Vandy and Pat's team doesn't have what it takes to play with the Big Girls this year.

Now, next year, that might be a different story.

Geaux Tigers!

James Robinson, Shreveport, La.

ROBINSONJTIM

GRIFF: I'd say that Pat Summitt has earned a great deal of respect over the years, and the style she coaches is indeed right to the edge.

This year's Lady Vols obviously aren't the best unit Summitt has had to work with, and still, UT is competitive.

I agree Vandy was on the short end of some calls in that particular contest, but that is the nature of the game.

Q: I have been a (female) NASCAR fan since the days of Fireball Roberts. I also have been a fan of the Labontes for years. I have hopes that Bobby does help the Petty team regain respect and I agree with your description of Bobby as a family man, etc.

Yet I do take issue with your biased opinion of Tony Stewart. I have watched him throughout the years progress up the ranks and now consider him the best all around racer on the NASCAR circuit.

He was not handed his place in NASCAR, he earned it with his talent and expertise. On off weekends he can often be found racing on small community tracks and working with young drivers.

Last week he gave up a win to help his teammate, Denny Hamlin, win the Shoot Out. And for his "mercurial" attitude, I point out Dale Earnhardt as one of the most "mercurial" drivers ever.

And for "playboy," does he parade his girlfriends on race day as Jeff Gordon does? Again, Tony is often at home in Indiana with his family rather than being photographed with models etc. to keep himself in the limelight.

Having been to many tracks, promotions and races, I have both met and observed the aforementioned drivers, all outstanding in their field. Tony stands out in my mind as one of the nicest ones I have met during a promotional event when he focused on the young children waiting in awe to meet him.

In closing, when you can write as a columnist using factual information rather than as a prejudice writer, I will consider your column worthy for me and other racing fans to read in order to get accurate information re the drivers. (And, do you even know who Fireball Roberts was?). Research your information before you write.

Elizabeth Davis

bebo1966@earthlink.net

GRIFF: Will all due respect Ms. Davis, your dealings with Stewart or other drivers at autograph sessions or meet and greets hardly outweighs the 15 years and countless interviews I've conducted with drivers, owners and crew members over my career. I've talked with these men on and off the record, and I assure you that what you see is not always what you get.

As for me being biased, my column is based on opinion — but my opinions are based on facts and information I have gleaned.

I appreciate your loyalty to your favorite drivers, however, and can understand your anger, however misguided.

I recognized Stewart as one of the finest drivers in the world and one of the best interviews on the planet. Yes, he did make sacrifices to earn his place on the Cup circuit, but his trek to a top ride was quicker than what Bobby Labonte endured.

Stewart's past violent tantrums — punching a photographer at Indianapolis, pushing another at Homestead — are not good for the sport. I'm glad he was convinced to undergo anger management. So far, so good.

As for his playboy image, it is Stewart, not I, who has chosen to play that up recently.

Q: I have been a diehard Tennessee fan since 1974 and remained a diehard fan even living in Lexington, Kentucky, for the past 12 years. I have always seemed to be a bigger Tennessee basketball fan than football (if that is possible) and I am really enjoying this season.

Two questions I have for you: Do you not do Ask Griff during Basketball Season? If so I cannot seem to find it. I refused to pay for a subscription to govolsXtra until Bruce Pearl proved to me that he is the real deal so I am new to this site.

Second question how many others do you think felt the same way you did when you wrote this piece back on Dec. 25, 2005...I would say 100 percent of the Tennessee fans.

"Attendance at Thompson-Boling is up, and there's more excitement around UT basketball than at any time in recent memory. It's still unlikely these Vols will make the NCAA tournament, their early Top 25 ranking aside. For all the coaching Pearl does, and the successful system he employs, Tennessee simply might not have the talent to battle through the SEC to an 18-win season. It would take everything to go right for the Vols to make it to the Big Dance. That's asking a lot. A more realistic goal is the NIT. If Pearl can manage that, he'll have done more than most anyone expected."

Anyway, I look forward to reading your articles in the future.

Denny Bridges, Lexington, Kentucky's Biggest Tennessee Fan

ridges@insightbb.com

GRIFF: Thanks for keeping up with me Denny. You know, just about everything has gone right!

I've been in Daytona this weekend for the Daytona 500, but I caught the second half of the Vols game with Alabama over the Internet. I didn't even know I could watch them over the Internet and on my laptop until my buddy, Jason Hobbs of the Volnation.com site, told me how to do it.

This next stretch of games will be tough for UT, and I'm certainly looking forward to seeing them try to step up to the challenge.