Bogarting? Vols don't want to drag it out

But his players heard it in the film room, and again on the practice court, as Pearl warned them that Alabama will attempt to bogart them in tonight's game at Thompson-Boling Arena (TV: WVLT, at 8).

"Bogarting?'' Pearl said. "That means you displace someone.''

No doubt, the 25th-ranked Crimson Tide (19-7, 6-6 SEC) has displaced the Vols (18-9, 6-6) in this series, winning the past seven games.

Tennessee, however, has hogged the glory at ThompsonBoling Arena this season, winning 14 in a row at home, one short of tying the school record for home victories in a season.

"If you get bogarted,'' UT senior Dane Bradshaw said, "it's the same thing as getting punked. That's one of coach's words.''

According to one urban dictionary, bogarting is a slang term referring to someone taking something considered common property and not sharing it.

In Pearl's coach-speak, that would be the preferred space in the lane and under the basket.

That's what Alabama big men Jermareo Davidson (6-foot-10, 230-pounds) and Richard Hendrix (6-8, 265) do when they throw opponents around like rag dolls to get rebounds and score easy baskets.

Hendrix leads the SEC with a .621 field-goal percentage, scores 15 points per game and pulls down an average of 8.9 rebounds. Davidson averages 14.5 points and 8.3 rebounds.

"Alabama's like a football team that runs behind the fullback,'' UT assistant Jason Shay said. "You know they're going to do it, now what are you going to do to stop it?''

Pearl gives credit to Alabama coach Mark Gottfried for knowing how to play to his team's strengths.

"Mark plays that UCLA system, he's a John Wooden disciple,'' Pearl said. "He runs that high-post offense and they do the traditional things well. No one pounds the ball inside as well as they do.''

UT has played well at times against dominant centers. But opponents with two strong post players, such as North Carolina and Florida, have destroyed the Vols' largely inexperienced and undersized front line.

It will be up to freshmen centers Duke Crews and Wayne Chism, sophomore Ryan Childress and the 6-4 Bradshaw to hold their own in the lane.

"People always think we'll get beat in the paint,'' Crews said. "That's always motivation for us.''

The well-documented rivalry between the schools aside, the biggest incentive for the Tide and the Vols is an NCAA tournament at-large bid.

"Right now, every game is a rivalry,'' Crews said. "We need at least two more wins to get in the tournament.''

UT freshman point guard Ramar Smith agreed, but along the way Smith is excited about the opportunity to test himself against a player he has admired from afar, Alabama point guard Ronald Steele.

"It's the things he does, handling the ball, passing and shooting,'' said Smith, who first saw Steele play last year on a recruiting visit at Arkansas. "I didn't see him make any mistakes.

"I know he has been hurt, but he's playing better now and he's an All-American, and I'm still learning.''

Pearl said Smith had better take quick notes on Steele, who suffered a severely sprained ankle early this season.

"It's an important match-up,'' Pearl said. "Ramar has to make some tough twos, and they may leave him on the perimeter for some threes.

"A 100-percent Steele was the best point guard in the SEC last year, and he's getting back into form.''

Bradshaw said he and his teammates are ready to give full effort to Pearl's demands.

"Coach has proven he can beat Alabama (at WisconsinMilwaukee), and that's one reason he got this job,'' Bradshaw said. "So there's a way we can beat them, even if I haven't found it yet.

"We're going to come out there fighting, and we expect Alabama will, too.''

All Glue: Bradshaw was named captain of SI.com's eighth annual "All-Glue'' team for his vast contributions in many areas of the game.

Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis cited Bradshaw's ability to play hurt and find intangibles to beat opponents.

Pearl acknowledged he's considering starting an endowment scholarship in Bradshaw's name to reward the student-athlete who exemplifies the qualities Bradshaw has brought to the program.