Like most coaches, Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl believes the biggest game of the season is the next one.

But there's more to Pearl's logic where tonight's 7:30 home game with Vanderbilt (12-5, 3-3 SEC) is concerned.

"This could be the biggest win of the year for either team,'' said Pearl, whose 13th-ranked Vols (14-3, 5-1) are angling to secure an NCAA tournament bid. "Clearly, Vanderbilt is the team, or a team in the SEC East we're vying against for a tourney berth.

"I hope we both get in, but if we don't ... this is like a bracket-buster game.''

Pearl joked that in preparing for Vanderbilt, he might make a call to the football offices Tuesday night.

"Defending their Princeton offense is like playing the option,'' Pearl said. "Maybe I ought to give (UT defensive coordinator) John Chavis a call.''

No doubt, for all the hustle and teamwork Tennessee has displayed, tonight's game comes down to individual discipline and fundamentals more than anything.

"They spread you out and they back-cut you,'' Pearl said. "They read how you guard them and react off that. It really exposes your fundamentals; your stance, your vision.

"Our aggressiveness could be exploited. They expose your weakest link on defense.''

UT center Major Wingate, who at one early point in his high school athletic career was a tight end and defensive end in football, said the option analogy hits close to home where Vanderbilt's offense is concerned.

"It's just like that,'' Wingate said. "If the defense doesn't do their assignment in football, it's a long play or a touchdown.

"(In basketball) you get beat by a (3-pointer), a dunk or a back-door layup.''

Lofton, a receiver and free safety on his high school team, also favors the option comparison.

"It's similar in that you have your man to guard,'' Lofton said, "and it's lights out when there's a breakdown.''

No doubt, the Commodores have proved they can shoot lights out from 3-point range.

Vanderbilt leads the SEC with 8.33 3-point field goals made in conference games while UT ranks third with 7.83.

And though the Commodores' patient, methodical approach stands in stark contrast to Tennessee's wide-open style, Vanderbilt is second only to the Vols in assist/turnover ratio per game.

Lofton, second in the SEC with 2.47 steals per game, said getting the ball away from the Commodores will be a chore.

"It will be a lot tougher to get steals tomorrow (Wednesday) night,'' Lofton said. "They are just so patient and they take care of the ball real good.''

Chief Advice: Chavis chuckled when told Pearl joked about calling him for advice.

"Shoot, all I know about basketball is there are two goals, and you try to score in one and keep the other guy from scoring in yours,'' Chavis said. "What I do know is our basketball team competes hard, and they are fun to watch.''