We said in this space two Tuesdays ago that Tennessee faced a huge week of basketball with Memphis and Florida on the docket.

We're saying it again.

The Vols are 5-1 in SEC play. Two quality opponents, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, are headed to Thompson-Boling Arena.

You know Thompson-Boling Arena, don't you? That thunder dome by the river where all visitors perish.

The map to March Madness says win your home games and steal a couple on the road. If UT follows that course this week, the Vols will be an astonishing 7-1 at the halfway point of the SEC race.

That's a nice margin to work with in a stretch run that features five road games out of eight.

Easier said than done, of course.

Vanderbilt already has won at Georgetown and Kentucky. Coach Kevin Stallings has his most athletic team yet.

In Shan Foster, DeMarre Carroll and transfer Derrick Byars, Vandy boasts a trio of long, strong wing-type players.

"I love Vanderbilt's team,'' Florida coach Billy Donovan said Monday, 48 hours after hammering it, 81-58.

"I liken Byars and Shan Foster to the perimeter of that Georgia team a couple of years ago with Jarvis Hayes and Ezra Williams.

"Kevin does a great job posting them, getting them threes and getting them driving opportunities.''

Byars, the junior from Memphis, showed interest in transferring to UT two summers ago when he left Virginia. However, the Vols were afraid taking him would deter recruiting prize Tyler Smith.

It turned out they have to play against Byars on Wednesday and ultimately lost Smith in the bargain.

"Derrick is a key element in what we do on both ends of the floor,'' said Stallings.

Ole Miss won't be any fun to play, either. Rod Barnes' teams never are.

Ask John Brady.

Brady's LSU Tigers stayed unbeaten in the league Saturday, but barely. They broke a 71-71 tie to win 79-73 at Ole Miss.

"They put numbers on us we hadn't had this year,'' said Brady.

The Rebels shot 53 percent but the eyebrow-raising number was a 32-25 rebounding edge against the SEC's premier rebounding club. (LSU battered UT 43-25 on the boards on Jan. 14)

"The consistency in Rod's teams,'' said Brady, "are how hard his team plays, how aggressive they play and how sound they are defensively.

"We got all of that Saturday, every bit of it.''

As will the Vols.

UT's 81-65 win over South Carolina last Saturday was timely preparation for the week to come.

Even though they weren't hitting on all cylinders, the Vols found a way to win against an athletic, hard-nosed opponent that was playing well.

Expect more of same.

Fine Paid: UT has cut a check to pay the $5,000 fine handed out by the SEC after the crowd stormed the court following the Jan. 21 win over Florida. That raises the question of what becomes of the money raised by The Sports Animal radio station.

As of Monday, program director Mickey Dearstone was planning to drive to the SEC office in Birmingham to deliver the money generated by fan contributions toward paying the fine, even if it turns out to be only a gesture.

"If they go down there and it's already been paid, it's already been paid,'' said Mike Hamilton, UT men's athletic director. "We were clearly in violation. We were fined and we were obligated to pay it.

"It (the station) has been a long-time partner and we appreciate their support. And the support of the fans has been nothing short of phenomenal.''

Hamilton said UT had the same number of police officers (58) working the South Carolina game last Saturday as it did for Florida. Their presence was more visible, and a railing was placed in front of the end-zone student section.

"We're appreciative of the fan support,'' said Hamilton, "and realize there's a lot of pent-up frustration waiting for us to have some signature wins.

"We've had one now and we need to celebrate in the stands.''

Getting Well: Kentucky has corrected its aim. After hitting 50 percent from the field only four times in its first 16 games, UK has surpassed 50 in three of its past four. It also has its first four-game winning streak. Coincidence?

"When you're making shots,'' said coach Tubby Smith, "it solves a lot of problems.''