The game was on the line, the ball in his hands, and there was a chance for JaJuan Smith to lead Tennessee over Kentucky before a sold-out Thompson-Boling Arena.

It's the type of ending the walk-on from McMinn County High School probably played out hundreds of times while practicing.

Smith might have played the situation out in his mind in the days leading up to Wednesday night's game, too, but it's hard to say for sure because he hasn't been made available to the media since UT's 80-78 loss to the Wildcats on Wednesday.

The No. 11 Vols (20-6, 11-4 SEC) are in recovery mode as they approach Saturday's 2 p.m. (TV: WVLT) tip at Vanderbilt (16-10, 7-8).

"They (the Wildcats) shoot 79 percent in the second half, you ought to get blown out,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "So how we have the ball a couple of times in the final minute with a chance to tie or win is pretty amazing. It speaks to the scrappiness of this team.''

It also speaks to the Vols' chemistry, which was evident in the post game and again in Thursday's practice.

Smith went from would-be hero to goat in the final minute of the Kentucky game, missing the front end of a 1-and-1 free-throw situation with 52 seconds left and turning the ball over after trying to penetrate the Wildcats' defense with 10 seconds remaining.

But you won't see any finger pointing or hear any backstabbing from this year's version of the Vols.

"JaJuan Smith played a helluva game,'' UT senior forward Andre Patterson said. "Without him, we're not even in it.''

No one was more upset about the loss to the Wildcats than Chris Lofton, a Kentucky native who admittedly tried to avoid the media after the game.

"They came and got me and made me come back in here,'' Lofton informed the media Wednesday night.

But no one made Lofton take up for Smith, which he eagerly did when asked about how the final minute of the game played out.

"Everyone makes mistakes,'' Lofton said. "You win together, and you lose together. We're all in this together.''

Pearl said he wanted Smith to hand the ball to C.J. Watson, so the Vols could run a final play, and he was disappointed his sophomore super-sub forced the issue.

But Pearl also pointed out that Smith had 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting — including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

"JaJuan had 15 points — if he had 18, then it's special,'' Pearl said, noting the difference one play can make in perception. "You look at the shots and plays JaJuan has made throughout the year, he's got to be the best sixth man in the SEC.''

Planting Seeds: Who says UT doesn't have anything to play for Saturday?

Yes, the Vols have clinched the No. 1 seed in the East and have a bye in the first round of the SEC tournament before playing the winner of Thursday's game between the East's No. 5 seed (South Carolina or Georgia) and the West's No. 4 seed (Mississippi State, Auburn or Ole Miss).

But no, UT hasn't secured a seeding in the NCAA tournament, and Pearl said that's very crucial.

"There's a monumental difference between a four and five (seed),'' Pearl said. "The 12 (seeds) are so much better than the 13s. You get a top-four (seed), they'll keep you in your region.''

The Vols had the No. 4 RPI rating heading into the Kentucky game and don't figure to drop too much.

UT was projected as a No. 3 seed prior to the loss to Kentucky.