Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl discussed the recent arrests of redshirt sophomore Anthony Passley and sophomore walk-on Jordan Smith at a team meeting Monday.

The pair was taken into custody just after 2 a.m. Sunday on Class C felony charges of manufacture, delivery, sale or possession of crack cocaine -- a Schedule II drug -- according to the police report.

"We met as a team at 6 a.m. and visited about it,'' Pearl said. "We've got high standards, and when those standards aren't met, we'll respond to it appropriately.''

It's safe to say Pearl would have rather spent the majority of his Monday press conference discussing UT's latest rankings (No. 14 Associated Press, No. 15 USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll) or RPI ratings (No. 6).

Instead, Pearl was questioned repeatedly about the players' suspensions.

Pearl indicated Monday that dismissal remains a strong possibility for Smith and Passley, regardless of how their cases play out in court. The players are to be arraigned March 14 in Knoxville's general sessions court.

The police report chronicling the arrests:

Officers approached Smith's car after it was found parked blocking the sidewalk under a no parking sign outside a Knoxville nightclub. After noticing the odor of marijuana, police requested and were granted permission by the players to search Smith's Crown Victoria.

Police uncovered a bag with approximately 15.2 grams of crack cocaine in the driver-side door of Smith's car next to Smith's wallet and UT I.D.

A bag containing less than three ounces of marijuana was found in Passley's pocket, which constituted a Class A misdemeanor offense of simple possession/casual exchange.

News of the arrests was released on television during the Kentucky-Florida basketball game Sunday, tainting the image of UT basketball that Pearl and his players worked to establish during their run to the SEC East Division championship.

"Two things I look at when something like this happens are how it affects the individuals involved and how it reflects on the rest of the team,'' Pearl said. "We've got some fine and wonderful student athletes. When these types of things happen, it detracts from that.''

Smith, 23, is a West High School graduate who played a total of four minutes this season. Passley, 20, transferred to UT from Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was sitting out this season.

Pearl said he'd assume if there were other UT players present at the time of the arrests, they would also have been taken into custody.

Senior point guard C.J. Watson said the Vols can't allow the incident to become a distraction.

"We've just got to stay focused on basketball,'' Watson said. "We'll probably get judged as a team somewhat, but we have to focus on winning the SEC tournament this week.''

The Vols (21-6) have a bye into Friday's quarterfinal round and will play at 1 p.m. in Nashville against the winner of Thursday's South Carolina-Mississippi State game.

Pearl's Vote: Pearl said LSU's Glen Davis got his vote for SEC Player of the Year.

"I said from the beginning of the year the best player on the best team should be player of the year,'' Pearl said. "(Davis) is special. He competes and he takes and makes the big shots. He's a terrific competitor.''

Pearl said if he could vote for a runner-up, it would likely be UT shooting guard Chris Lofton or point guard C.J. Watson.

"If we'd have won the league, I would hope Chris or C.J. got it,'' Pearl said.

Pearl also said he would have no problem if LSU coach John Brady was named the SEC's Coach of the Year.

"If John Brady wins it, I could absolutely, positively, understand it,'' Pearl said. "It would be consistent with my player of the year vote.

Practice: UT had a light workout Monday but Pearl said he would have a hard practice today.

The Vols will practice in Knoxville again Wednesday before busing to Nashville that evening.

UT has scheduled a 5 p.m. practice Thursday at Tennessee State University. The Vols won't be allowed to practice in the Gaylord Entertainment Center until 11 a.m. Friday -- two hours before their game.

Bracketology: UT is listed as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament according to ESPN.com's "bracketology.'' The Vols are projected to play MAAC champ Iona in Jacksonville, Fla.