Tennessee men's basketball team didn't leave much of an impression in New York, but the Vols are better off than they would have been had they not made the appearance.

The No. 22 Vols (4-2) lost both games — 56-44 to tournament champion Butler on Wednesday and 101-87 to No. 2 North Carolina on Friday — at Madison Square Garden in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

"We made some progress, without a doubt,'' said UT coach Bruce Pearl. "Our guys showed some toughness.''

The Vols also showed their inexperience.

Butler, a disciplined and experienced half-court team, controlled the tempo from the outset and exposed UT's lack of half-court offensive continuity.

The Tar Heels, chock full of McDonald's All-Americans — including stud double posts Tyler Hansbrough and Brandan Wright — dominated the front line.

But ESPN analyst Steve Lavin, a former coach at UCLA, said NIT tournament was exactly what UT needed.

"There's no better way to learn if you're a young team than to go up against teams that are effective with different tempos,'' Lavin said. "Tennessee is going to be ready for anything they face the rest of the non-conference and the SEC schedule.

The Vols will most assuredly drop from the Top 25, but Lavin said UT remains a strong candidate to make the NCAA tournament provided they mature in the post.

"With their tough schedule, they'll have a strong RPI, so if they get to 17 or 18 wins they would make the NCAA tournament,'' he said. "One critical factor is their young posts developing and being able to finish and make plays with their backs to the basket. They're fine in transition, but they've struggled when there's a man between them in a basket. They have to have a go-to (move), a drop step, a jump hook or a turn-and-face.''

Duke Crews (6-foot-7), Wayne Chism (6-9) and Ryan Childress (6-9) have rotated at post with mixed results. All enjoyed success against lesser opponents but struggled against premium talent.

Crews hasn't gone up with his shot quick enough, Chism's point-blank shots roll in and out and Childress needs work on his footwork.

Lavin said the book is out on the Vols

"People are sitting and covering their bigs and tagging the shooters,'' Lavin said. "Once (the posts improve), that forces teams to collapse and double (-team), and that leads to quick kick outs and ball rotation, which leads to open shots or dribble penetration.

"But first, it's important they have the ability to generate points from the paint, playing at both speeds, and getting to the foul line.''

Lavin added UT has to "get consistent play out of Dane Bradshaw and Chris Lofton, clearly,'' which didn't happen in New York.

Bradshaw has added true point guard responsibilities on the offensive end in the half-court set while guarding the power forward on defense

Lofton, meanwhile, struggled to make good decisions on when to drive and when to shoot the 3-pointer.

"Chris is as good a shooter as there is in the country in taking contested shots,'' Pearl said, "but he's an unselfish kid and he doesn't want to take the contested shot.''

Lavin said Lofton must fire away.

"Like a home run hitter, he's going to strike out a lot, but he's got to keep trying,'' Lavin said. "He's a shooter, and he has to keep launching the ball because that's what's going to set up the drive. When people honor his shot, he can drive and kick.''

Onlooker: UT signee Brian Williams, a 6-10, 300-pound post player at Harmony Community Prep School in Cincinnati, attended the game against North Carolina.

"Tennessee's presence inside was small, so definitely, I'd have made a difference,'' said Williams, originally from the Bronx. "That lack of size, that's what they're bringing me in for. Really, it motivates me.''

Sore Lofton: Perhaps no one takes losses harder than Lofton.

"I go by the end result; wins are good and losses are bad,'' said Lofton, asked if the second half against North Carolina was promising. "I was just missing shots tonight. It wasn't like they played good.''

Lofton missed consecutive free throws for the first time in at least two years.

His reaction when asked about it was a curt "I don't want to talk about it.''

Worth Noting: The Vols' 11 turnovers against the Tar Heels was their fewest of the season; North Carolina's committed a season-high 24 turnovers.