Pearl's refrain: Georgia on my mind

He's interested in playing the Georgia game Saturday in Athens (TV: WVLT, 4 p.m.).

"You'd like from a motivational standpoint to catch a team (in the SEC tourney) that you lost to, but you can't worry about it,'' Pearl said Wednesday a day after the Vols' stirring 86-76 victory over No. 5 Florida. "We should be talking about Georgia. That's what I'm thinking about.''

That's what Pearl's players are talking about.

"The headlines could all start to change,'' UT senior Dane Bradshaw said, "if we play poorly at Georgia.''

Pearl gave the Vols Wednesday off and headed to Middle Tennessee on a recruiting visit.

"I've got my DVD player and I'm watching Georgia tape,'' Pearl said. "I'll watch it on the way back, too.''

Pearl likely caught highlights from Wednesday night's SEC action at the least.

UT (21-9, 9-6 SEC) lost any opportunity to be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Division and draw a first-round bye in the SEC tournament when Vanderbilt (20-9, 10-5 SEC) beat South Carolina on Wednesday night.

The tiebreaker for the No. 3 seed in the East favors UT with a 5-4 record against East division opponents. Kentucky (20-9, 9-6) is 4-5 in the East after beating Georgia.

If the Vols beat Georgia, they can't be lower than the No. 3 seed. UT would open the SEC tournament at 9:45 p.m. March 8 against the No. 6 seed from the West.

The only way UT could drop to the No. 4 seed in the East is if the Vols lose to Georgia and Kentucky beats Florida on Sunday.

No wonder Pearl doesn't want to spend much time trying to figure out the scenarios.

Trying to project the West is more mind-boggling.

LSU, Arkansas or Auburn could be the West's No. 6 seed. The division was so open that any of the West's six teams could end up the No. 4 or No. 5 seed.

"As you look at the West, I don't think there's a lot of difference between first and last,'' Pearl said. "There's such incredible balance on that side.

"The SEC tournament is clearly going to be a factor for any of those teams in the West.''

No doubt, and Saturday's game will be a factor for Georgia.

"I like the energy our team is playing with, and that's good because we'll be challenged,'' Pearl said. "Georgia's a team playing for its NCAA tournament life, and it will have more to play for than we will, as was the case for us against Florida.

"Right now, our focus is on how we're playing and what we need to do each night against each individual opponent.''

No Pass: UT sophomore Tony Passley did not dress against Florida and will not make the trip to Georgia, Pearl said.

"Tony is focusing on some other aspects,'' Pearl said, "other than basketball.''

According to a source close to the program, Passley is concentrating on academics.

All-District: Chris Lofton was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 7 first team.

Lofton is the only Vol among 150 players from 15 districts to earn first- or second-team honors, and he's one of 17 SEC players to make a district team.

Gators' Bait: Florida junior Joakim Noah indicated all is not well for the Gators following Tuesday night's game.

"We have some issues right now,'' Noah told the Gainesville Sun. "Everybody has to look in the mirror, stay focused and work toward the same goal, which is winning the game.''

Noah is one of four Florida players projected to go in the first round of the NBA draft.

"It's just that unity, the way we were playing on offense,'' Noah said. "We're not in sync right now.''