Vols deflect pressure

You'd have never known it talking to the Vols after Friday's practice.

There was more time spent discussing dinner plans than worrying about the Gators.

Perhaps after seeing LSU's powerful front line and Memphis' NBA-like lineup in back-to-back losses in the past week, the Vols figure there's not much Florida (17-0, 3-0 SEC) can throw at them that they haven't already seen.

There's just one big difference: This time, UT (11-3, 2-1) will be playing in front of a sold-out crowd of some 24,535 expected to be at Thompson-Boling Arena for the 7 p.m. tip off (TV: Fox Sports Net).

"All the pressure is on Florida,'' UT center Major Wingate said. "There's no pressure on us at all.''

Perhaps the Vols' 83-76 win at Florida last year has something to do with the quiet confidence Wingate showed?

"Not really; I don't even remember it,'' Wingate replied. "I try to forget everything possible about last year.''

UT sharpshooter Chris Lofton wore a blank look while discussing tonight's game.

"We get up for all of our games,'' Lofton said. "We know what to expect and what we have to do to win this game. I'll try to do what I have to do.''

UT forward Dane Bradshaw, who'll be stuck guarding the Gators' 6-foot-11 Joakim Noah, was more analytical than anxious.

"I'll take the same approach I've been taking, front the post and depend on help from the backside,'' Bradshaw said. "Hopefully, they won't take too much advantage of that mismatch.''

If nothing else, the Vols continue to prove they're comfortable in their own skin, content to be what they are and make the best of it.

That's all UT coach Bruce Pearl asks of his team.

"We have a really interesting team,'' Pearl said. "We have a chance to be special.

"But against Florida, there's no margin for error. I have to do a great job as a coach just for us to have a chance.''

Indeed, Pearl said the talented, athletic, deep and relentless Gators are what he wants his team to look like in a couple of years.

"I like the way Florida plays,'' Pearl said. "I would like to get this program in that direction.

"We're there now in some ways; we're just a couple of guys short of being there.''

Not exactly the sort of pre-game comments one might expect from a UT coach prior to a contest with the Gators in any sport.

But then, Pearl has already shown he's not afraid to do the unexpected.

That could include finding a way to knock off Florida; the Vegas oddsmakers have installed the Gators as only a 1A 1/2-point favorite.

"Of the last three games we've played, this is the most important because it's an SEC East opponent,'' Pearl said. "If you're going to compete, you have to hold serve at home.''

Matchup: Pearl said the key is the backcourt play.

"(Florida's Lee) Humphrey and Lofton are the two best shooters in the SEC,'' he said. "(C.J.) Watson and (Florida's Taurean) Green are the two best shooting point guards in the league.

"Their defense against one another will be key.''

Noah Forecast: Noah is among the most surprising success stories in the SEC this season.

Pearl said he's as fast as any big man in the country and Bradshaw said Noah runs the floor as well as anyone on the Florida roster.

Wingate has a different perspective on the 6-11 forward.

"I've known Noah for seven or eight years, since I was going to ABCD camp,'' Wingate said. "He was the little kid that gave us our equipment. He was a 6-3 point guard, but then he grew five or six inches.

"I know he used to play soccer and tennis, that's why he's so quick.''

Worth Noting: Florida leads the league with 84.2 points per game, UT is second with 83.5. ... UT leads the SEC with 8.71 treys per contest, Florida is second with 8.29 3-pointers per contest. ... The Gators are the highest ranked opponent to visit Knoxville since No. 2 Kentucky played the Vols on Feb. 17, 1996. ... UT is playing back-to-back games against top-five teams for the first time since 1965 and only the third time in school history.