GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A confident Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl strolled into the Greensboro Coliseum Wednesday afternoon.

"I know if we play well,'' Pearl said, "we'll beat them.''

That's a big "if,'' especially when one considers the Vols (21-7) have lost four of their last six games heading into today's first-round game of the NCAA tournament (TV: WVLT, 2:40 p.m.) against Winthrop (23-7).

Pearl wants UT, a No. 2 seed, to approach the match up with the No. 15 Eagles with confidence, even if it is the Vols' first NCAA tournament appearance in five years.

The winner of UT's game plays the winner of today's earlier game between Wichita State and Seton Hall on Saturday.

"This (Winthrop) game is nothing different than what we've done all year,'' said Pearl, whose Vols have the nation's No. 6 RPI and strength of schedule. "What's gotten us here is that we bring it every night, regardless of opponent, and that's what we're going to have to do (today) to advance.''

Pearl said Winthrop, the Big South Conference champions, presents unique challenges because the Eagles can rebound and shoot well from the perimeter.

That could be one reason many national analysts have predicted a Winthrop upset.

"We've never played a team that has five guys on the floor that can shoot the three,'' Pearl said. "Combine that with the fact they've out-rebounded Memphis, Auburn and Marquette, and it's a tough match-up.''

UT assistant Jason Shay, the Vols' primary scout, said the key is how well the teams adjust to one another's style.

"Winthrop does a good job getting the ball into the post on angles,'' Shay said. "They do it a variety of ways with a variety of people.

"We'll have to play with more energy; that's the big thing you haven't seen sustained lately.''

Considering the Vols have played one game in the past 12 days, energy shouldn't be a problem.

The last time UT's schedule was this sparse was after a lackluster 89-81 win against Appalachian State on Dec. 6, and it came back to throttle Texas 95-78 on the road on Dec. 17.

Shay said the Vols' advantage in this game is Winthrop could have trouble with Pearl's "Controlled Chaos'' defense.

"They can watch as much tape of us as they want, but until you play against it, it's difficult,'' Shay said. "Our advantage is they haven't seen pressure like we apply.''

The pressure often starts when the opponent inbounds the ball after a made UT basket. Senior point guard C.J. Watson often leads the attack.

Watson, along with the rest of UT's starting lineup, shared keys to his personal match-up.

"I'll have to stay in front of (5-foot-10 Chris Gaynor), pressure him and keep him away from the goal,'' Watson said. "He's also a great spot-up shooter.''

Shooting guard Chris Lofton could have the key match up against Eagles' two-guard Torrell Martin, who's listed at 6-5 but appears shorter.

"I have to play hard defense and box out, because he (Martin) goes and gets rebounds,'' Lofton said. "He can post up, so I'll front him.''

Martin, a two-time Big South tournament MVP, invites the attention to the match-up.

"I've heard (Lofton) is the J.J. Redick of his league,'' Martin said. "I'm the J.J. Redick of my league.

"In the terminology, I'm going to have to step on his (Lofton's) toes. That's what I'm gonna do.''

Dane Bradshaw and JaJuan Smith will share duties on Winthrop's James Shuler, who Pearl describes as a "bull.''

"I'll have to play physical; you can take a lot away by paying attention to the scouting report on him,'' Bradshaw said.

Said Smith: "I'll stay with him wherever he goes, and beat him to his spots.''

Andre Patterson will go head-to-head with Eagles' 6-8 forward Phillip Williams, who like Patterson has a lanky build.

"He's a catch-and-shoot guy,'' Patterson said. "I'll have to use my athleticism and make plays on defense.''

UT center Major Wingate has an intriguing match-up with Craig Bradshaw, who looks smaller than the 6-10, 245 pounds he's listed.

"Like many overseas players, he can step out and shoot it well,'' Wingate said. "He might try, but I doubt he'll try to post-up on me that much.''

UT reserve guard Jordan Howell got a personal scouting report on Winthrop from his brother, Auburn guard Brett Howell.

"My brother said they're really good and very physical,'' Howell said. "He said their point guard is quick, and they'll be coming in here thinking they can beat us.''

Indeed, Gaynor, the Eagles' point guard, indicated he's not intimidated by UT.

"We've just got to take our time and play our game,'' he said. "Everybody knows they're the giant. They're gonna try to take us out in the first five minutes.''

Bradshaw said that hype and gamesmanship aside, it boils down to one thing.

"Once the ball goes in the air,'' he said. "You have to be ready to play 40 minutes.''