Streak? What streak?

Tennessee is taking the ol' "one-game-at-a-time approach'' heading into today's game against Arkansas at Thompson-Boling Arena (TV: WVLT, 1 p.m.).

The No. 10 Vols (20-4, 11-2 SEC) look to extend a 15-game home-court win streak that ranks as the longest running in the SEC.

"It's something I haven't mentioned or talked about,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "You try to protect your home court, always, but nobody in the stands will rebound or score for us.

"They can certainly inspire us, though.''

The Vols figure to need it against the red-hot Razorbacks (18-8, 7-6) with back-to-back victories against Florida and Alabama.

"It's a team that's playing for it's life,'' Pearl said. "This one would ensure them a (NCAA) tournament bid. They're arguably as talented as anyone in the league.''

The Vols are listed as a six-point favorite, but if not for the Razorbacks' hideous 3-27 SEC road mark the past four seasons (1-5 this season), the line likely would be different.

On paper, the Razorbacks have exactly what it takes to beat the Vols.

For starters, they have two guards capable of getting in the face of UT sharpshooter Chris Lofton.

Ronnie Brewer, a 6-foot-7 junior, is considered one of the top defenders in the SEC. Jonathon Modica, at 6-5, is another player with the length and quickness to disrupt Lofton.

Then there's the Arkansas front line, which boasts 7-footer Steven Hill and 6-10 Darian Townes. Hill ranks second in the SEC in blocked shots (2.96 per game) and Townes is sixth (1.81 per game).

"We just can't get overwhelmed by their size and athleticism,'' Pearl said.

As for the Vols' pressure, Hogs' coach Stan Heath can turn to either Eric Ferguson or Dontell Jefferson at the point. Both are seniors.

"They might have the 10 most-talented guys in the league,'' said UT assistant Scott Edgar, a former Nolan Richardson assistant at Arkansas 1985-91. "The big thing is Arkansas is coming in here with a lot of confidence. They've won two monumental games.

"And you know what? With a couple of breaks, they could be sitting at 11-2 in the conference, just like us.''

The Razorbacks' SEC road record this season is somewhat deceptive when one considers their five conference losses have come by a combined 11 points.

The combination of those factors leads Pearl to say it's going to take another "special'' effort for the Vols to escape an upset.

"I didn't know if we had another level to step up to before the Florida game,'' Pearl said. "Now, we'll have to take it to that same level we took it to at Florida.''

As for that home-court win streak, UT senior Andre Patterson said it'll have to take care of itself.

"We're not even thinking about that, we have to take it one game at a time,'' Patterson said. "But we do love playing here.''

Short Week: Pearl indicated the Vols aren't as prepared for this game as he would like.

"We've had the two lightest practices we've had all year,'' Pearl said. "Wednesday night, we get home at 2:30 a.m. and Arkansas is coming off a Tuesday night home game.

"We couldn't do anything Thursday, and we did very little today.''

Motivation: Pearl said the Vols' next goal is to win the regular-season SEC crown.

"We still have a lot to play for,'' he said. "We have to play for a regular-season championship. You just don't know when you'll get there again.''

Tennessee and LSU each is 11-2 in the SEC, with the Tigers having handled the Vols in Baton Rouge, 88-74, on Jan. 14.

"The only thing we've accomplished is we don't have to play the first night of the SEC tournament,'' Pearl said.

In Attendance: Former UT standout and NBA all-star Allan Houston will attend today's game, Pearl said.

Houston ranks as the Vols' all-time leading scorer (2,801, 1989-93), free-throw shooter (651 made), 3-point shooter (346 made, 817 attempts) and has the most career starts (128) and most minutes played (4,606).