The motto at nearby Ft. Jackson Army Base is "Victory Starts Here.''

The Tennessee men's basketball team might want to borrow the slogan fpr today's 1:30 p.m. game against South Carolina at the Colonial Center.

"This would be our most important win of the season,'' said UT coach Bruce Pearl, whose team toppled then-No. 6 Texas in Austin on Dec. 17. "Road games are great opportunities because in league play, the home team has to hold serve.

"You look at it, you have South Carolina, Georgia and Vanderbilt that are competing (with UT) for that third and fourth spot in the East.''

That third or fourth spot could translate into an NCAA tournament berth, depending on what happens in the SEC tournament in Nashville in March.

But for now, Pearl's focus is zeroed in on the task at hand, which is finding a way for Tennessee to score its first road win over the Gamecocks since the 2000-01 season.

South Carolina (9-4) leads the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 59.9 points per game. The Vols (9-1) are the league's top scoring team, pouring in 85.1 points per game.

Pearl said Tennessee's frontline will play a key role this afternoon.

"When (forwards) Tarence Kinsey and Renaldo Balkman play well, South Carolina wins,'' Pearl said. "Balkman plays with passion; we'll have to match his intensity and keep him under control. Kinsey is one of the better players in the league.''

Stanley Asumnu will be on Kinsey while Dane Bradshaw and Andre Patterson will take turns against Balkman.

"Stanley has got to step up physically and use his athleticism to contain Kinsey,'' Pearl said. "We need a big defensive effort from Stanley.''

Pearl said he expects the game will settle into a half-court affair, even if the Vols press.

"South Carolina can handle pressure well because they have an experienced backcourt and they press themselves,'' Pearl said. "We'll press some, but on the road against that experience we have to mix it up.''

Pearl said he expects South Carolina coach Dave Odom to be well prepared, as the Gamecocks have four returning starters from last year's NIT Championship team.

"South Carolina has depth, and they can also put a big lineup on the floor,'' Pearl said. "It's going to be a challenge.''

Pearl said these types of games are the kind where UT fans could make a difference.

"Our fans need to make a Sunday drive,'' Pearl said. "I can't tell you what a difference having just 100 fans in orange would make.

"Getting fans to travel would be the next step for our program.''

Of course, winning an SEC game will be an important step for Pearl.