'Gator Killer' would like to be playing better

He was only half right.

Those tape-recorders also wanted to hear from the Gator Killer.

Bradshaw, Tennessee's only senior, may be in a bit of a slump but he has a knack of rising to the occasion against Florida.

It was he who made two buzzer-beating winning baskets last season as the Vols swept the eventual NCAA champions.

Thus, it is he who will be a marked man when the Vols (15-7, 3-4 SEC) visit Gainesville on Saturday to face the No. 1-ranked Gators (20-2, 7-0). Game time is 3 p.m. (TV: WVLT).

"I'm just happy the team got back on a winning track (with an 81-72 win over Georgia on Wednesday),'' Bradshaw said, "but individually I'd like to be playing better right now.

"I've just got to keep fighting and there's no better place to turn that around than Gainesville, Florida.''

In his past four games, Bradshaw is 2-of-17 shooting the ball. He's still getting his share of assists (21 in those four games), but also had five turnovers against Georgia.

One factor is that his patented penetration moves have been harder to come by with injured teammate Chris Lofton not on the floor stretching the defense.

"Dane knows that for us to be improved he's got to spread the defense by knocking down shots,'' coach Bruce Pearl said.

Bradshaw knocked down shots last year against Florida, averaging 11.2 points in the two Tennessee wins.

As usual, he'll have a family contingent in the stands Saturday. His 92-year-old grandfather will attend, as he did last year.

"Now that they (UT) are selling No. 23 jerseys -- which are probably on clearance by now -- he'll be wearing one,'' Bradshaw said.

This year his sister Bridget, who played at Barry University in Miami, will make a live appearance. In years past, her presence was confined to enlarged mug shots on signs in the Florida student section.

"Hopefully, they'll bring the signs again so she'll get to see herself,'' Bradshaw said.

Lofton Works: Lofton did his most extensive practice work Thursday since his Jan. 20 ankle sprain, but Pearl said he isn't counting on playing him Saturday.

"He's getting closer,'' said Pearl. "I think he'd be available on an emergency basis. He's got another day and a half, but right now I'm preparing without him.''

Lofton played defense against the scout team and then did a shooting drill in which he cut and took jump shots. He'll get more work today.

"I don't think he did enough today to worry about resting him,'' Pearl said. "He hasn't had a really hard go.''

Revenge: Florida won't be overlooking the Vols, considering Tennessee swept the Gators last year, has won back-to-back games in Gainesville and beaten Florida four of the past five meetings.

Furthermore, Florida center Joakim Noah won't forget that he lost a tooth to a C.J. Watson elbow in UT's most recent trip to Gainesville.

"Joakim is my favorite player in the SEC as far as an opponent,'' Pearl said, "how he plays, how his engine runs.

"We saw each other a couple of times this summer and he told me, 'Now you know the real reason I came back (and didn't enter the NBA draft) was to beat you guys twice.' ''