Having clinched the SEC Eastern Division title, Tennessee appears to have shifted its focus to another prize:

The sportsmanship award.

The Vols reeled off an eight-game winning streak from the middle of January to the middle of February to assure themselves a berth in the NCAA tournament.

And now they're helping their less-credentialed brethren get in as well.

That's three losses in four games for the Vols - all to SEC teams who were on the bubble looking in.

"It's a big feather in our hat,'' said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith after the Wildcats escaped Thompson-Boling Arena with an 80-78 victory Wednesday night.

It was a big feather in Alabama's hat. It was a big feather in Arkansas' hat.

When the bracket is unveiled March 12, look for all three teams to be in - with an assist from the Vols.

Here's a hint, guys: Vanderbilt is a lost cause so just take care of your business Saturday.

What exactly is Tennessee's business at this point?

The Vols are 20-6, staring at the regular-season finale at Vandy and then a first-round bye in the SEC tournament.

Their NCAA tournament resume is rock solid. Prior to Wednesday's loss, they were projected as a No. 3 seed.

Their stellar RPI isn't going to nosedive. If they lose at Vandy and again in the first round of the SEC tournament, they probably will fall no lower than a No. 4 seed.

But that's not to say everything is hunky-dory.

Their momentum is obviously spent, never a good thing with the postseason just around the corner.

And their confidence, a key ingredient in how they got to 19-3, has been bloodied.

"I think (it has) a little bit,'' said first-year UT coach Bruce Pearl. "I saw a few body-language issues.

"But we're going to be in close games all the time now. That's the way it's going to be. We're not going to run anybody off the floor.

"I still think we're a confident bunch.''

UT point guard C.J. Watson, stung by losing his final game in the arena, qualified the confidence question.

"Our confidence is high on the offensive end,'' said Watson. "But we've got to pick it up on defense.

"If we don't stop anybody, we're not going to accomplish the goals we want to accomplish.''

The words "confidence" and "defense" don't belong in the same paragraph.

Alabama staggered UT's defense in the first half. Arkansas pounded it in the second half.

Kentucky delivered the KO, connecting on 12 of its first 13 shots in the second half and finishing 15 of 19.

The first real sign of trouble was back on Feb. 15 when offensively-challenged Auburn shot 67 percent and scored 64 points in the second half of what turned out to be a 105-89 UT win.

"We're capable of defending better,'' said Pearl. "We're capable of having a sense of urgency I don't think we have.

"I saw some guys take possessions off.''

That didn't used to happen. Why now?

Maybe the Vols are tired. Maybe, the division title clinched, they're not as hungry as they once were.

"We're all right,'' protested UT senior Andre Patterson. "It's important (to have momentum) but I feel we're ready for the tournament. I hope this is our last loss of the year.

"We played two teams who were on the bubble and they played with a little more passion and energy. We've got to get our fire back.''

Easier said than done. There's only one chance to do it, at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

"We've got to dig deep and find some gas,'' said Watson.

"That's a must-win game for us.''

A must-win game. That's a term Tennessee's opponents have been using of late. And it's worked for them, too.

Maybe a sense of urgency is just what the doctor ordered.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.