Tennessee is playing a "Hump’’ game of sorts tonight.

The Vols, fresh off an emotional 80-76 victory over Florida, are taking on Mississippi State at Humphrey Coliseum at 8 EST.

At first glance, most would like No. 19 Tennessee’s (12-3, 3-1 SEC) chances against the struggling Bulldogs (11-7, 1-4).

After all, Mississippi State dropped an 80-52 decision at Vanderbilt on Saturday and has twice as many turnovers (96) as assists (47) this season.

That would seem to bode well for the opportunistic Vols, who lead the SEC with 11 steals per outing.

But UT coach Bruce Pearl isn’t taking anything for granted. He views the Bulldogs as such a formidable opponent that he might change the starting lineup for the first time this season, replacing Stanley Asumnu with Andre Patterson.

"It (MSU) is a team that out-rebounded LSU, and what did LSU out-rebound us by, 18?’’ Pearl said. "This (MSU) program has been to four NCAA tournaments the last four years and had four 20-win seasons. That’s unchartered territory for our program.

"We’re in good position (to make the NCAA tournament), but we need to take advantage of that.’’

Pearl said throughout the week he’s unsatisfied with the athletic Asumnu.

"I’d like Stanley to get it going on the defensive end and rebounding end and let the offense take care of itself,’’ Pearl said. "He (Patterson) showed a dimension (against Florida) that can really help us. I have to find a way to play him more.’’

Facing the Bulldogs in Starkville tonight, it could be the time.

"It’s one of the biggest teams in the league against one of the smallest,’’ Pearl said.

Patterson, who stands 6-foot-7 to Asumnu’s 6-5, has already played more minutes than Asumnu in SEC games this season despite not starting.

Patterson has twice as many rebounds and blocked shots and half the turnovers Asumnu has recorded.

Regardless of who starts or is on the court, 6-10 center Major Wingate said effort won’t be a problem.

"We didn’t accomplish nothing yet,’’ Wingate said. "So, we beat Florida and we’re top 25. We still have three losses, and we knew as soon as we beat Florida there would be a bull’s-eye on our back.’’

As has become a custom, Wingate is bringing a great deal of confidence into his personal match-up, even though it is against a 7-2 senior in Wesley Morgan of Gallatin, Tenn.

"So they (MSU) out-rebounded LSU,’’ Wingate said. "Everybody has their day.’’

Scouting Report: Bulldogs’ freshman Jamont Gordon is the man for whom the Vols have planned.

"They’ll use him every which way they can,’’ Pearl said. "He’s played the one, the two and the three.’’

Gordon (6-4, 225 pounds) leads Mississippi State in scoring, minutes played, defensive rebounds assists and steals.

Many believed that Gordon, originally from Nashville before going to Oak Hill Academy his senior year, was headed to Knoxville.

Pearl, however, said by the time he took the job it was too late to get in on Gordon.

Who’s Tennessee?: Along with Morgan and Gordon, Mississippi State has four players on its roster who attended Tennessee high schools. Twins Richard and Reginald Delk, both freshmen, played at Jackson North Side.

The Vols, by comparison, have two scholarship players from Tennessee, Dane Bradshaw and JaJuan Smith.

"You’d like to think we could do a better job keeping Tennessee’s sons at home,’’ Pearl said. "I tried to recruit him (Gordon). There was no interest.’’