NEW YORK -- North Carolina freshman star Brandan Wright said he never considered playing at Tennessee, and he aims to show why in tonight's game at Madison Square Garden.

"From the beginning, I didn't have Tennessee in the picture,'' said Wright, the first three-time Tennessee Mr. Basketball in the state's history. "I didn't like any of the Tennessee schools. I liked Tennessee for football, and that's about it.

"It was Carolina first, then it was pull between Duke and Vandy. They were probably on the same pedestal.''

The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Wright was in a league of his own Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Wright scored 21 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in No. 2 North Carolina's 82-74 loss to Gonzaga in the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals.

Wright and preseason All-American Tyler Hansbrough will tower over the Vols' interior players in today's consolation game at 4:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN).

"I played against Duke (Crews) a couple of summers ago, and I played against Wayne Chism twice during the high school season,'' said Wright, whose Brentwood Academy team won both meetings against Chism and Bolivar. "I'll just take the matchups and do what I can. If I go against a smaller guy, I'll back him down and make a quick post move.''

UT coach Bruce Pearl said Wright is everything he thought he would be.

"He's as good or better,'' Pearl said. "(Wednesday) night, he made himself a lot of money. He changed that game, and he was the best NBA prospect on the floor.''

Pearl grimaced when told Wright never considered the Vols.

"A year from now would Brandan Wright's recruiting have been different? Certainly.'' Pearl said.

Associate head coach Tony Jones, who heads up recruiting, said it wasn't that there was anything wrong with how UT approached Wright.

"Me and Bruce went to visit him and it was a cordial meeting,'' Jones said. "We just couldn't get a call back.''

Freshmen Chism and Crews, who along with sophomore Ryan Childress rotate at center, said they won't be intimidated.

"When I played him in high school, we equaled each other out,'' Chism said. "Brandan has gotten better, and he's worked hard.''

Crews shrugged.

"I've played Brandan and Tyler before, and I'm going to take anything away from them,'' Crews said. "They're great, but that doesn't make me any more timid. I'm not going to take anything away from my own game.''

Childress indicated he wants to take Wright's game away when he gets the chance.

"He's skinny, I know that,'' Childress said. "Real skinny.''

In response, Vols' teammates chimed in: "Go get him Chill!''

Wright said he doesn't attach any special meaning to playing against his home state school

"I'm just going to play hard, play with intensity, and get a win for Carolina,'' he said.