Without this year, their best memories would have been what?

A hula contest in Maui? Hanging 108 on Texas A&M? Winning a buzzer-beater at Ole Miss?

Without this year, their March Madness experience would be what?

Losing an NIT first-rounder at George Mason when nobody wanted to take the final shot?

"You only remember your senior year,'' said their coach, Bruce Pearl.

"All of 'em have had their struggles. This is what they're going to remember.''

What a year to remember for Tennessee's seniors.

C.J. Watson, Stanley Asumnu and Andre Patterson, along with walk-on Eddie DeBro, play their final game in Thompson-Boling Arena tonight against Kentucky.

We know it's their final game here because for once in their careers, they don't have to worry about such things as whether or not the NIT gives them a home game.

They're going to the big dance. Winning or losing to Kentucky affects nothing other than seeding, if that.

Pearl is correct, of course. This is the season that will fulfill these seniors' careers.

"We just wanted to prove to everybody we weren't as bad as we looked,'' said Patterson. "Coach Pearl gave us that opportunity and we just took it.''

But I'm not so sure these seniors have forgotten their past failures and frustrations. And, furthermore, that those painful memories haven't contributed to their leaving with a smile.

Billy Donovan, whose Florida team has lost twice at the buzzer to these guys after 80 minutes of hand-to-hand combat, is certain of it.

"To have true success and reach your full potential,'' Donovan said, "your team has got to get hardened.

"Tennessee's kids are hardened. They've experienced so much losing, they're callous to it, As they get older, they have that inner toughness and drive, and Bruce has brought in, the best word I can use for it, is hope.''

Hope. Confidence. Toughness. Energy. Connection.

There are all sorts of words for it.

Watson and Asumnu are the only survivors from a heralded (and overrated, it turned out) recruiting class that arrived in the fall of 2002.

Among the promises a recruit cherishes most is playing time. Watson certainly got it, playing about as many minutes as anyone in the country for four years.

All those minutes, even those in losses to Chattanooga or Auburn, were an ally in his last waltz.

"C.J. has got a confidence about him that has helped us win close games,'' said Pearl. "He can do it with a smile or a wink or just a confident look.''

Asumnu has been in and out of the lineup each year. The three Bible verses that inspired him to wear No. 3 have seen him through the hard times. He's going out on a high note, effective in his role off the bench.

"As a senior, I've been pretty hard on him, as hard as on anybody,'' said Pearl. "He's done a pretty good job of accepting that.''

Said Asumnu, "That's what college is about. It makes you stronger.''

Patterson transferred in after two years (and various mistakes) at UCLA, where men's basketball was king on campus. Like Watson (Las Vegas) and Asumnu (Houston), he was a big-city kid from L.A.

"Andre puts a lot of pressure on himself,'' said Pearl. "He was a great high school player and played high school and AAU ball with a lot of guys who are in the NBA now.

"So in Andre's mind, he's not as successful as he wanted to be. I'm so pleased he's having this senior year so we can say, 'No, you have been successful in college! Yes, you have!' ''

As with all recruits everywhere, these three came to UT with the notion that championships and NCAA brackets would follow.

"Yeah,'' said Asumnu, "before you get to college, you see it on TV, how much fun it is, and you want to experience that.

"It would have been very disappointing not to get there. I would feel like I failed.''

No, guys, you haven't failed. You've had a senior season that will be remembered for a long time to come. Yes, you have.