Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl is leaving no stone unturned in his search for a new assistant coach.

Pearl had discussions with Maryville College coach Randy Lambert on Thursday about the vacancy that came open when Scott Edgar left to take the head coaching job at Southeast Missouri State.

"Randy, from an experience standpoint, knows how to coach and teach and he's a Tennessee guy, so there's a lot of positives there,'' Pearl said Friday. "I was a Division II guy for nine years, so I have great respect for coaching at all levels.''

Lambert, 51, has been the Fighting Scots' head coach for 26 years. During the past 16 years, he has averaged 22 wins per season and appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament 13 times.

"To have an opportunity to coach alongside coach Pearl and his staff and be a part of the enthusiasm is very attractive,'' Lambert said. "I feel honored to be considered. It has definitely got my adrenaline up.''

Lambert said he's aware his limited national recruiting base could hurt his chances to get the job.

"I don't have the national contacts others might,'' he said, "but I've been recruiting successfully for 26 years at Maryville and I'm confident I can evaluate talent.''

Pearl alluded to the fact that recruiting experience will be a factor in the hire.

"I think the recruiting would be a dramatic change for Randy,'' Pearl said. "I think it's real important to find the right fit for both us and the candidate.''

Pearl said he's in no rush to fill the position.

"Camp starts in June and recruiting in July, so I have a few weeks before I need to make a hire,'' Pearl said. "I'd like to have it done by the beginning of June, so I would still not anticipate a final decision for another week or two.''

Lambert is a Maryville native who graduated from Maryville High School (1972) and Maryville College (1976). He spent a year as a graduate assistant at Tennessee and three years as an assistant at Lenoir City High School before returning to Maryville to coach.

Lambert also has been Maryville College's athletic director the past 20 years.

In 2002, Lambert interviewed for the vacancy at Chattanooga that eventually went to Jeff Lebo.

"I don't look at every opportunity that comes up; I have a great job that I enjoy here,'' Lambert said. "But this is an opportunity anyone would consider.

"Coach Pearl said he wanted someone from outside the family that could challenge him, and I could do that."

Pearl is expected to bring in at least one more candidate -- possibly two -- before the interview process is complete.

Lambert is the sixth coach Pearl has seriously considered for the job. The others are: ABA coach/general manager Bob Sundvold, former Texas San-Antonio coach Tim Carter, former Iowa State assistant Damon Archibald, former Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes and Kent State assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer.

Texas Turnover: The Vols' home date with Texas is getting more winnable by the day.

Big 12 Player of the Year P.J. Tucker has joined the Longhorns' 6-foot-10 center LeMarcus Aldridge in signing with an agent and declaring for the NBA draft.

Texas' sophomore point guard Daniel Gibson also has declared, but he hasn't signed with an agent so he still might return.

Pearl said that with or without Tucker, Texas will be tough.

"They've got one of the best recruiting classes in the nation,'' Pearl said. "So you can still count on them being good.''

The date for the Vols' game with Texas in Knoxville has not yet been released. Texas was 30-7 last year and made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee stunned the then-No. 6 Longhorns 95-78 in Austin on Dec. 17 last season en route to a 22-8 season.