NEW YORK -- Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl was on and off the stage at the NIT Season Tip-Off press conference in a New York minute Tuesday afternoon.

"Just like his team, he's off to the races, and he operated with a quick tempo,'' ESPN commentator Steve Lavin said to the crowd after Pearl delivered a brief speech and excused himself for practice.

Pearl's message heading into tonight's 7 p.m. game against Butler at Madison Square Garden was direct, even if the New York crowd seemed to take it lightly.

"Tennessee basketball has great tradition,'' Pearl said. "Of course, we are honored to always tell the world that we might have the finest basketball coach of all time in Knoxville, and that would be Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in the history of college basketball.

"There have been great coaches on the men's side as well, Ray Mears and Don DeVoe,'' he said. "It just so happens that three great New York Knickerbockers, Allan Houston, Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King all wore the orange of the Tennessee Vols.''

Oddly enough, Pearl's comment about the former UT greats who played for the Knicks drew laughter.

Pearl pressed on.

"We're here to celebrate that history and tradition,'' he said, "and hopefully we'll do that with the way our basketball team plays.''

Pearl reiterated that celebrating a victory over Butler (4-0) is not a given. Las Vegas oddsmakers agree. No. 22 UT is only a 5A 1/2-point favorite.

"When I was at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Butler was our toughest preparation,'' Pearl said. "Much of what Butler does relies on penetration to create opportunities in the offense.

"And Butler plays a more physical brand of basketball than the SEC.''

Pearl said Butler coach Todd Lickliter is an "offensive genius'' when it comes to running plays.

"What he does with the ball screen and the spread is as good as anyone in the country,'' he said.

Lickliter, who missed the press conference after the Butler charter flight was delayed more than two hours in Indianapolis, praised Pearl heavily in return.

"It was very difficult to compete against Bruce and prepare for him,'' said Lickliter, whose team defeated Notre Dame and Indiana to advance to New York. "They play a style that's unique and difficult; impossible to simulate in practice.''

Lickliter said his familiarity with Pearl's system helps, but it's still up to the players to execute.

"What you're trying to do is compete and find opportunities,'' he said. "They make you work from end line to end line.

"Defensively, you have to guard their guys in multiple ways because most every guy can drive and shoot, and they have a lot of freedom.''

Lickliter's not buying it that Tennessee's youth makes the Vols underdogs.

"Those guys (freshmen) are making huge strides; and (Pearl) might not be satisfied, but that doesn't mean they aren't playing well,'' Lickliter said. "Bruce has a great system and he's chosen some things to be a master at. How he defends the inbounds and his inbounds plays, for example.''

Lickliter said he respects UT's talent, but he indicated he doesn't expect it to be a significant step up from Pearl's Sweet 16 Wisconsin-Milwaukee team of two years ago.

"His players are great at Tennessee, but they were great at Milwaukee, too,'' Lickliter said. "Recruiting is one of the games within the game that he handles well. Bruce is very good at finding players that fit his system.

"I knew Bruce would be successful in the SEC. He added a dimension to the Horizon League.''

Lavin's Take: ESPN's Lavin, a former UCLA coach, is eager to see Pearl's system in action tonight.

"It's a disruptive style because of multiple defense with a frenetic pace,'' Lavin said. "They are comfortable playing at a high speed that wears opponents down.

"When Tennessee goes on a run, one of those 10-0 or 14-2 spurts, it's not only the turnovers they force but also the quick shots they force.''

Conference Take: Lavin said the "SEC is top-heavy with five teams capable of making a run to the Final Four.''

Lavin said Florida, Alabama and LSU are most likely to make that run, but Tennessee and Kentucky are capable of improving during the season.

"The ACC is the most improved conference, the Big 12 is in transition and the Pac-10 is going through a youth movement.''