Ever since C.J. Watson dished out his final assist last March in Greensboro, N.C., the watchword on Tennessee's future has been point guard by committee.

Committee? Tag team is more accurate, Bruce Pearl said Friday night.

In the week before the season-opener, Pearl has to render a verdict in what is essentially a game of musical chairs.

Ramar Smith, Marques Johnson and Jordan Howell divided point guard minutes three ways in a 100-57 exhibition rout of Tusculum College.

When the Vols next take the court against Middle Tennessee State, those same 40 minutes will be divided two ways, not three.

"Two guys will play, not three,'' Pearl said. "The third guy won't be in the rotation. He'll be the 11th man.''

Pearl indicated this much: freshman Smith is in the two-man rotation. The only uncertainty about Smith is whether or not he starts opening night.

Thus, either freshman Johnson or junior Howell will be voted off the island.

"This week's going to be important for Jordan,'' said Pearl. "I will not go with a three-man rotation once we get started Friday. I did it tonight because it was an exhibition.''

Howell is at a disadvantage because he just returned from missing several weeks with a broken bone in his hand.

He played eight minutes against Tusculum, hitting a couple of 3-point shots. No assists, no turnovers.

Smith's combined stats for the two exhibitions: 10-of-21 shooting, 10 assists, four turnovers, four steals.

Johnson's resume: 5-of-9 shooting, seven assists, two turnovers, three steals.

If you're betting, Howell faces the longest odds, if for no other reason than because of the layoff.

Pearl sounds like his decision is whether to start Smith or Johnson. The logical assumption, then, is that the one who doesn't start remains in the mix.

"They're both good players,'' Pearl said. "I would give Ramar the edge right now.

"With Ramar, you can see the talent. You can see the feel for the game. But he's a combo guard trying to play point guard.''

Aren't they all? Johnson played point on his AAU team but not so much on his high school team.

Howell isn't a prototypical point guard, but he assumed the role of spotting Watson a few minutes here and there last year and handled himself well.

One possible factor in Howell's favor is that if stays on the bench, that means two freshmen are exclusively running the team.

But if Pearl thinks the two freshmen are the best two, that's the way he'll go and that's the way he should go.

At any rate, it'll be a tag team, not a committee.

"I can handle two point guards,'' he said.

But he can't handle three. Here's why:

If Smith is playing well, the 18 minutes he got Friday night aren't enough. Johnson, meanwhile, heated up the longer the game wore on, an indication 13 minutes weren't enough.

"With three guys,'' said Pearl, "none of 'em can get in a real rhythm.''

Watson was in a rhythm for four years, averaging more than 30 minutes a game out of necessity. Pearl likes having two guys as opposed to an iron man.

"Believe me,'' he said, "it's my preference.

"We should be so good at every position that they all play 20 minutes.''

So he and his staff have to cut the third guy out of the rotation.

He won't get much help from his players, assuming he asks them.

"All three of 'em bring something different,'' said Chris Lofton.

"Whoever's out there is fine with me. It really doesn't matter.''

JaJuan Smith likes the options, but not the elimination process.

"If you ask me,'' he said, "they're gonna have to flip a coin.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.