Vols' goal: Compensate for Lofton's absence

The Vols (14-5, 2-2 SEC) play the Rebels (12-7, 1-4) at 8 p.m. at C.M. "Tad'' Smith Coliseum in their first complete game without Lofton.

Lofton, who leads the SEC with a 21.5 points-per-game scoring average, sprained his right ankle early in the second half of Tennessee's 64-61 win over South Carolina last Saturday and is expected to miss the next three or four games.

"It's going to be a challenge, no doubt,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "But when have you not seen this team respond? At halftime of the North Carolina game, they responded. After some tight losses on the road, they came back against South Carolina and they responded.

"I'm just confident they will.''

Pearl's confidence flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Not only is Ole Miss bigger and stronger, it's also more experienced starting three seniors and two juniors to the Vols' three freshmen, senior and a junior.

Further, SEC teams are just 5-22 in road conference games this season.

But Pearl, seemingly ever the optimist, sees tonight's game as another opportunity.

"When the league has five road wins so far, any road win is an opportunity to separate yourself,'' Pearl said. "I know we're flying to Memphis and driving down, so that tells me (Ole Miss) isn't far from Tennessee.

"I know when the Lady Vols play there, they enjoy a home-court advantage. I'm hoping some of our fans from that part of the state will help us out.''

Pearl is also counting on freshman point guard Ramar Smith to help the Vols.

Smith showed a propensity for scoring in the high-level AAU ranks, and since arriving at UT he has continued his development as a point guard.

"Ramar is a tremendous competitor and a good leader because he's fearless,'' Pearl said. "He's earned his teammates' respect.''

Smith ranks 11th in the SEC in league games in scoring, averaging 14.8 in four conference games and he's second in steals with 2.25 per contest.

Smith said the team is taking exception to those who say they can't win without Lofton.

"Sure, it will be a lot different without Chris out there,'' Smith said. "But it's also motivating, because we're all good players, we all stay in the gym and work hard after practice.

"We need Chris Lofton, but we can still win games without him.''

Senior Dane Bradshaw is taking the same approach.

"That's kind of my mindset, too,'' Bradshaw said. "We all realize the value of Chris, but at the same time it's a challenge for our team to prove we can play without him.''

Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said he's made sure his players aren't taking the Vols lightly.

"I've seen situations where this serves as an emotional boost to a team,'' Kennedy said. "We certainly can't think that since they don't have Chris Lofton that makes our job any less challenging.''

Kennedy said he anticipates JaJuan Smith and Ramar Smith will have a more aggressive scoring mentality, and he's also keenly aware of Bradshaw's penchant for stepping up in the clutch.

"With the success Tennessee had last year, people really starting to appreciate him and understand how vital (Bradshaw) is to what Tennessee is doing,'' Kennedy said. "He truly is a coach on the floor, especially with the youth of Tennessee's kids.

"He's also a kid that when you're trying to replace 21 points out of the lineup, I think Dane is certainly capable of increasing his productivity.''

Pearl said the Vols will employ their "controlled chaos'' press much of the game with hopes of forcing turnovers, but, he notes, Ole Miss has the top turnover margin in the league.

The reason to go up-tempo is to neutralize the Rebels' front-line size.

"Their inside guys, they have four defensive tackles that play the positions,'' Pearl said. "They have a defensive end in Greg Hardy, at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, that's the smallest of the bunch.

"Compared to Dwayne Curtis (6-8, 290), Jermy Parnell (6-8, 245) and Kenny Williams (6-8, 240), he's small. Keeping them off the offensive boards will be a real key for us.''

Pearl said he'll keep centers Duke Crews (6-7) and Wayne Chism (6-9) on the court together to combat the Rebels' size so long as they're effective and not in foul trouble.

"In spreading the ball around, it will go inside more,'' Pearl said. "But that's not going to be a fix-all.''