Tennessee’s battle with LSU tonight is a big matchup in more ways than one.

It’s big because it gives the Vols (11-1, 2-0 SEC) a chance to crack the top-25 poll next week and remain perfect in the SEC with another valuable road victory.

But it’s also big because it’s a true test of UT’s ability to measure up against the bigger and stronger teams they’ll see as the season progresses.

Few teams possess the size and power of the Tigers (9-5, 1-0), who feature last year’s SEC Freshman of the Year, Glen "Big Baby’’ Davis.

Davis, a 6-foot-9, 310-pounder, is a headache for any team to match up with, averaging 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Throw in 6-9 freshman Tyrus Thomas, who leads the SEC with 10.1 rebounds per game, and LSU is a nightmare for anyone, much less an undersized team like UT.

"His (Thomas’) bounce is incredible,’’ said Arkansas coach Stan Heath, whose Razorbacks were dealt a 63-58 loss by the Tigers on Wednesday. "He gets up and over your player so quickly it’s scary. Every time a shot goes up he feels he can block it. Every time a rebound goes up, he thinks it’s his, and he gets the majority of them.’’

UT coach Bruce Pearl, whose leading rebounder is 6-4 converted guard Dane Bradshaw, knows that all too well.

"It seems this is a team built to take advantage of us,’’ Pearl said. "They are plus-15 in rebounds — second best in the country, and that’s our biggest challenge. Everything we do will be predicated on trying to keep them off the boards.

"The second thing defensively would be to stop the post.’’

That responsibility, along with keeping the Tigers off the backboards, will fall largely onto the shoulders of centers Major Wingate and Andre Patterson.

Wingate, who has tangled with Davis at various camps and AAU basketball tournaments, said he knows he’ll have his hands full.

"I’ll do my best, but Big Boy, being so big, you’ll give up some baskets,’’ Wingate said. "He’s a beast. You just try to stay out of foul trouble against him. He doesn’t look like it, but he moves real well.

"I pretty much got him in foul trouble last year. I’ll try to do the same and keep him off the court.’’

The Tigers’ five losses have come by a combined 11 points.

Patterson, Wingate’s 6-7 backup, said UT’s 77-55 win over LSU last year is meaningless.

"That’s ancient history,’’ Patterson said. "This is a new year.’’

Patterson said he looks forward to matching up against Davis and Thomas.

"It’s good to play against the best,’’ Patterson said. "I know I’ll play a big role.’’

Patterson hopes the Vols’ conditioning will, too. UT, with its strong guard play, has obvious intentions to turn up the tempo.

"LSU can run, but they can’t run as long as we can,’’ Patterson said. "This is going to be a conditioning game for us. We knew we’d be small coming into the season. But all the hills and lines we run is to offset games like this.’’

Pearl’s approach is the pressure is on the Bayou Bengals.

"The next three games (LSU, Memphis, Florida) are opportunity games,’’ Pearl said. "Not many people will win at LSU.’’

Wingate said he’s focused on that opportunity, but not overly concerned with his matchup or the game.

"I know I’m quicker than (Davis) and stronger, but he’s heavy so he’s more powerful,’’ Wingate, 6-10, 250, said. "I just have to play smart and stay out of foul trouble.

"The game ? we have so many weapons and we’re so balanced, there’s not much to worry about. We just have to play hard.’’