And for his next act, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl will pull a rabbit out of his hat ?

Actually, Pearl said it’s his players who continue to reach into their bag of tricks, and just when you thought you’d seen it all.

"I think a lot of people thought that was it, and there was nothing else we could do,’’ Pearl said Thursday, a day after UT’s 76-72 victory at No. 12 Florida. "But just when you think we can’t get any better, C.J. Watson steps up, Major (Wingate) goes 5-of-6, (Chris) Lofton does his thing, and JaJuan Smith makes a big 3-pointer.

"How many storylines do you need? They are all their own storylines.’’

The endings, however, are becoming somewhat predictable: The Vols win.

The No. 10 Vols (20-4, 11-2 SEC) are fourth in the most recent RPI rating as they prepare for Saturday’s 1 p.m. home game against Arkansas (18-8, 7-6). UT has clinched a least a share of the SEC Eastern Division title and a bye in the first round of the SEC tournament.

Like a good mystery, the Vols’ wins haven’t always made sense until the very end. Even then, many are left wondering: "How’d they do it?’’

Pearl’s answer for the win against Florida?

"We stepped up and played at even another level of intensity,’’ he said. "I’d told the team before the game we hadn’t played our best basketball yet.’’

Pearl admits the statistics surprise even him at times. He was clearly caught off guard by one from Wednesday’s win, saying, "You mean Lofton didn’t have a field goal in the second half?’’

No, and Tennessee’s 6-foot-10 center, Major Wingate, didn’t have a rebound in the 21 minutes he played.

"But Major was 5-of-6 (shooting) and stepped up in a big way,’’ Pearl said, almost defensively. "Major keeps his guys off the board. I know it’s unusual.’’

Unusual, but effective.

Gator Bait: Pearl said the O’Connell Center was the most difficult road environment he has played in since traveling to Kentucky Wesleyan.

"It was hostile, it was loud, it was hot and there was a lot to overcome,’’ Pearl said, describing Wednesday night’s game conditions.

Pearl said the Florida fans behind the UT bench were riding him and his team pretty hard, too.

"We had some fun on the bench down there,’’ he said. "We kept it pretty light and pretty lively.

"Their fans, I thought, it brought out some nasty in us.’’

Pearl, who was visibly sweating through his suit early in the game, said he ignored the Florida chant of "Change your pants! Change your pants!’’

"I was pretty focused,’’ Pearl said. "If I listened, it could get pretty personal.’’

On the court, it did get personal between the players, and Pearl loved it.

"There was a lot of talking out there,’’ he said. "Major was showing a lot of emotion. Most of it was positive, but it was heated.

"If we didn’t have that swagger, or that touch of arrogance, we don’t win that game.’’

Don’t Mean Nothing: Pearl said he hasn’t talked to Lofton about his perfect (28-of-28) free throw shooting in SEC contests this season.

"Our guys have been giving him a hard enough time about that,’’ Pearl said.

Pearl then smiled and threw a deliberate jab at Lofton in an obvious attempt to motivate his superstar.

"He doesn’t get to there (the free throw line) often enough for it to actually mean anything,’’ he said.

Lofton doesn’t qualify for SEC statistical leaders because he hasn’t averaged 2.5 free throws made per game. He’s averaging 2.15 made per game.

To qualify as the league’s leader, Lofton would need to make 12 free throws over the next three games.

Lofton is 45-of-48 (93.7) on the season.

According to the SEC media guide, the highest single-season free throw shooting percentage recorded was 92.7, by Paul Smith of Mississippi State in 1965 who hit 51 of 55.

Dane Pain: Pearl said Dane Bradshaw’s recent 3-point shooting prowess is a result of Bradshaw "Getting used to the pain.’’

Bradshaw, who hit a career-high three 3-pointers at Florida, said he has been wearing a brace, intermittingly, depending on how his wrist feels.

On TV: Jefferson-Pilot will televise UT’s final regular game at Vanderbilt on March 4. The game will start at either 1 or 3 p.m. EST.