Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl is ready to say the men's basketball program has solid top-25 footing, and UT officials are still working to pay Pearl like a Top 25 coach.

A year ago, the Vols finished 22-8 and ranked in the Top 25, but Pearl said there was work to be done before UT could consider itself among the elite.

"It took a second year of support from our fans, success on the court, television appearances and facility upgrades for me to say we're a Top 25 program,'' Pearl said Saturday. "Obviously, we wouldn't be if our freshmen weren't as good or better than advertised. They helped give us a chance to be the type of program we want to be.''

The Vols finished this season 24-11 and ranked No. 18 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll. UT is projected in next season's preseason polls at No. 6 by CBS Sportsline and No. 10 by ESPN.com's Andy Katz.

Pearl felt strongly enough about UT's program after this season's Sweet 16 run that he didn't use Iowa's interest in him for its head coaching vacancy as leverage in his contract.

Pearl said he and UT athletic director Mike Hamilton have "had some good conversations and agree on a lot of things,'' but his contract extension has yet to be signed and a dollar amount has not been set. Pearl made $1.1 million last season as part of a six-year deal that averages $1.3 annually through 2012, when he's due to make $1.5 million.

Hamilton has said he wants Pearl to retire at UT and will take market value into consideration when extending and/or adjusting Pearl's salary.

On Friday, Kentucky hired former Texas A&M coach Billy Gillespie for $2.3 million per year, and former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith left to take a job at Minnesota for $1.75 million per year.

"I'm sure the formality of me signing a contract will probably take place in the next couple of weeks,'' Pearl said. "I think Mike wants to see where everyone else has landed salary-wise, and that makes sense.''

Arkansas has yet to fill its vacant head coaching position, and the terms of Florida coach Billy Donovan's new contract have yet to be disclosed.

Lofton Look: Pearl said he sent in junior guard Chris Lofton's name to the NBA Draft Advisory Board so the junior All-American can see where he would be projected to go in the upcoming draft.

"We'll just see what they say,'' Pearl said. "Chris can make a decision on whether to stay or go based on that information. We should get an answer in the next week where Chris would be projected to go.''

Very few mock drafts have Lofton projected to be drafted this season, citing his relatively small 6-foot-2 height and his relative lack of athleticism.

Lofton has given no indication that he plans on leaving the Vols.

Forbes, Jones Staying: UT assistant coach Steve Forbes was contacted by Gillespie about joining the Kentucky staff, but Forbes said he's planted in Knoxville alongside Pearl.

"I came here to coach with Coach Pearl and win a national championship, and I think we can do that,'' said Forbes, who left Gillespie at Texas A&M last year to join UT. "I talked to Billy Thursday night, but I'm a Tennessee assistant.''

UT associate head coach Tony Jones said his interview for the head coaching job at Marshall on Thursday "went really well.'' Jones was aware Donovan made a strong push for eventual choice Donnie Jones, who had been Florida's associate head coach, before he arrived to interview in Huntington, W.Va.

"I talked to people at Marshall about Tony, and he's ready to be a head coach,'' Pearl said. "He's helped us build what we have here.

"I'm also very happy we retained Steve. He's helped us make progress defensively, and I'm going to give him more responsibility with our drop-back defense next season.''

Signing Day Delay: Pearl said the Vols won't sign a player on Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period. UT has two scholarships available.

"If we sign a player, it won't be Wednesday,'' said Pearl, who will be in Arkansas today recruiting. "The quality of our '08 class gives us the luxury to be selective.''

Rodney Alexander, a 6-7, 225-pound power forward from Redlands (Okla.) Community College, is scheduled to visit UT next weekend. Alexander, who's also being recruited by Illinois and Oklahoma, averaged 13.8 points and 5.2 rebounds last season and is ranked as one of the top 20 junior college players in the nation.