This isn't your typical David vs. Goliath matchup.

So says Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl as he prepares his No. 2-seeded Vols for Thursday's 2:40 p.m. NCAA tournament first-round game against No. 15 seed Winthrop in Greensboro, N.C.

"They're bigger than us at four positions,'' Pearl said. "It's not your David-and-Goliath matchup.''

Tennessee (21-7) is making its first NCAA tournament appearance in six years. The Eagles (23-7) are making their sixth appearance in the Big Dance in the last eight years.

Winthrop beat No. 7 seed Marquette on the road, 71-64, and had strong performances in losses to Memphis (73-63), Alabama (60-57) and Auburn (64-62).

"All five of their starters shoulda, coulda beat Gonzaga last year,'' said Pearl, referring to Winthrop's first-round 74-64 loss last season in a game they led or were tied in for 35 minutes.

And yet, all the pressure Thursday is on the Vols, ranked No. 18 by the Associated Press on Monday.

Earlier Monday, The Sporting News announced Pearl as its national coach of the year and Chris Lofton as a second team All-American.

Pearl knows the analysts predicting a Winthrop upset would suggest that makes it all the farther UT could fall should they suffer an upset.

"The pressure is on the Vols to take advantage of the seeding,'' Pearl said. "If we lose to Winthrop, my, we set ourselves up for criticism.''

Not that Pearl is thinking about anything but a win.

"My approach is this: We're prepared,'' Pearl said. "Our team has another gear in it. They've showed me that before and I think they'll show me that again.

"Let's just play good basketball and let the results take care of themselves.''

Pearl reiterated the Vols earned their seed by playing a tough schedule, and that won't change in the future.

Tennessee's schedule next season will get a boost from its participating in the preseason NIT against yet-to-be disclosed opponents.

Pearl said the Vols' success this year against national heavyweights such as Texas and Florida is why his players should feel prepared for the NCAA tournament.

"We have a chance to end up playing teams that have played for national championships,'' Pearl said. "That's where we want to be and why we scheduled like we did.

"It's what we've done all year long by playing Texas at Texas and Memphis at Memphis and beating Florida twice,'' he said. "So this is nothing new for us.''

Pearl heard that Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall was disappointed the Eagles weren't seeded higher than No. 15, but he indicated he's not sure what Marshall has to complain about.

The Vols, Pearl said, have not played their best basketball down the stretch.

"Would they (Winthrop) rather be a 13 (seed) and play Illinois or a 10 (seed) and play Michigan State?'' Pearl said. "If you're looking at taking your pick of the second seeds, who would you rather play of the No. 2 (seeds)?''

All his media speak aside, Pearl said the simple matter for his team is not to get caught up in the hoopla.

"I told the players I want them focusing on 40 minutes of basketball, focus on the scout team and not pay much attention to anything said or written on the outside,'' he said. "If there's anything for us to go back to, it's to remember how we felt when we were losing and how sick that was.''

Crime Story: Suspended UT players Jordan Smith and Anthony Passley are scheduled to be arraigned today in Knox County's Fourth Sessions Court.

The pair was arrested March 5 on Class C felony charges of possession of crack cocaine, according to a police report.

The cocaine-based substance was found in Smith's car. Passley also was charged with a Class A misdemeanor offense of simple possession/casual exchange after marijuana was found in his possession.

Smith is a sophomore walk-on from West High School who played four minutes this season. Passley is a redshirt sophomore who transferred to UT from Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The players have not had contact with the team since their suspension.

Practice: The Vols began work on their game plan for Winthrop in Monday's practice.

"They're stuff was pretty confusing,'' UT senior Andre Patterson said. "They're a solid team. We'll have to force the tempo and dictate the pace of play.''

Vols center Major Wingate said watching the tape was an eye-opening experience.

"We know how dangerous Winthrop is,'' Wingate said. "I'll approach this game like I do all the others, as though I'm matched up with an All-American.''

Another Honor: Lofton also was selected as a third team All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Lofton's the first Vol to make an All-America team since Ron Slay in 2003.

Lofton leads UT with a 17.3-point average to go with 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Lofton set UT records for most 3-point field goals made in a game (9) and in a season (106). Lofton leads the SEC with 3.78 3-pointers made per game.

Been There: Pearl interviewed for the Winthrop job in 1991 when he was an assistant at Iowa.

Pearl said he enjoyed the experience, but he didn't get invited for a campus interview.

Pearl's wife, Kim, has family in Rock Hill, S.C., where the school is located, and has vacationed and played golf there.