NASHVILLE -- Tennessee left the Music City with a couple of more wins, a ticket to the NIT Season Tip-off semifinals and considerably less weight on coach Bruce Pearl's shoulders.

As important as it was for Pearl to win his first three games, it was more important that he didn't lose them.

"We need to beat the teams we're supposed to beat, and beat a few we're not supposed to beat,'' Pearl said prior to the season.

At this stage of the year, with Tennessee's youth and inexperience, it's not likely there will be anyone in Madison Square Garden that Tennessee is "supposed'' to beat.

The Vols open with Butler (3-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday (TV: ESPN2). The other semifinal has North Carolina versus Gonzaga. The consolation and championship games are Friday at 4:30 p.m. and 7.

Don't be misled by the fact that Butler doesn't have a powerful football program. The Bulldogs have already knocked off Notre Dame and Indiana, and their history in the Horizon League gives them ample experience and know-how when it comes to handling Pearl's controlled chaos.

The formula to beat UT -- beat the inbounds press, avoid the backcourt trap, make it a half-court game, get to the free-throw line -- happens to be Butler's mode of operation, anyway.

Pearl conceded he knows a lot about Butler, but, he added, "they know a lot about us. It's going to be interesting.''

First things first, the dust needs to settle on exactly what UT's identity is, from the standpoint of who plays where and when and who takes what shots.

"I think we're beginning to define some roles for our guys,'' Pearl said. "I think there's still good balance.''

Pearl, however, knows this year's edition of the Vols is far from a complete package.

Like last year's team, this year's squad scores in bursts off turnovers and full-court pressure.

Unlike 2005-06, this year's team has yet to prove it can win when the opponent is effective slowing the tempo.

"We've got to score when we're not in those spurts,'' Pearl said. "When we go to New York, we may play teams where you can't win this way.''

But before the Vols get ahead of themselves, they'll be host to Coppin State at 4 p.m. Sunday.