Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl isn't ready to get comfortable with the view from above.

The Vols' No. 13 ranking in the Associated Press poll marks Pearl's highest rating in Division I.

But Pearl's not one to bother with such details.

First off, he's too busy watching film and preparing the game plan for Wednesday night's 7:30 p.m. showdown with rival Vanderbilt (12-5 overall, 3-3 SEC) at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Second, Pearl said there's no time for himself or the Vols (14-3, 5-1) to be distracted.

"We've played six conference games and we've got 10 (conference) left,'' said Pearl, speaking on VolCalls radio show from a packed Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Turkey Creek on Monday night. "So we're not listening to what we're hearing and we're not believing what we're reading.''

Unless, of course, the message is one he can use to motivate his team.

"Everybody is waiting for the bubble to burst, knowing how hard these kids are playing,'' Pearl said. "As long as we stay away from injuries, we'll be in position to beat anyone we play this season.

"But there is concern and worry (because), when are they going to run out of gas?''

Pearl has a theory on pacing himself: It's that he doesn't.

"I tell my players, 'You know when I want to rest?' " he said. "I want to rest when the Lord takes me. So right now, we're not worried about that.''

On The Road: Rick Ford, an advertising representative for Texas Roadhouse, said he anticipated VolCalls having success with the UT basketball program, but not this much.

"Not originally, no, but it certainly didn't take long for this to catch on,'' Ford said. "Monday nights have been very good for business.''

This is the first year the basketball version of VolCalls has been done in the restaurant. Last year, it was done in studio.

Pearl, ever the entertainer, said it works for him - and he gets a nice night out with his family, to boot.

"It's a good way to connect with fans,'' said Pearl, who signs autographs and chats up customers during the one-hour show's breaks. "I have dinner with my wife before the show or sometimes I bring my kids.

"I love all the interaction.''

Been Higher: Pearl appreciates what the Vols' ranking does for the program's recruiting, but he's no stranger to poll success.

"In my nine years of Division II (at Southern Indiana) we were ranked No. 1 in six or seven of those years,'' Pearl said.

Vols Hit Boards: UT ranks last in the SEC in rebounding margin (-2.8 per game), but the Vols have out-rebounded two of their past three opponents, Florida (40-35) and South Carolina (43-30).

In league play, UT is ninth in rebounding margin (-1.2).

Steal Away: The Vols have three of the SEC's top five steals leaders in Chris Lofton, C.J. Watson and Dane Bradshaw.

Lofton is second with 2.47 steals per game while Watson is third (2.41) and Bradshaw is fifth (2.00).

Positive Turnover: Bradshaw is tops in the league with a 3.00 assist/turnover ration. Watson is second at 2.37.

Streaking: Tennessee is 11-0 when it scores 80 or more points this season and 12-0 when opponents score fewer than 80 points. The Vols are 10-0 at Thompson-Boling Arena and have won 12 consecutive games at home dating to last season. Florida has the SEC's longest home-court win streak with 19 wins.