Lofton not ready to return

"He's not ready,'' Vols' coach Bruce Pearl said. "I think he's doubtful (for the Georgia game).''

Tennessee (14-7 overall, 2-4 SEC) will be host to the Bulldogs (5-2, 13-6) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Thompson-Boling Arena. The Vols play at Florida on Saturday.

Lofton, who leads the SEC with a 21.5 points-per-game average, did lateral drills at half-speed and took a few dozen shots before leaving the court to work with strength coach Troy Wills. Lofton is not expected to practice today.

"I'm sure he would have wanted to run and jump, but he's not ready,'' said Pearl, who saw Lofton go down in the second half of the Vols' Jan. 20 win over South Carolina. "He's not behind any schedule, but he's just not ready.''

Pearl seemed to repeat Lofton's "not ready'' status for his sake as much as the media's. It can't be easy to see Lofton in street clothes with UT having lost five of its past six games.

"It's only been seven or eight days (since the injury),'' Pearl said, "but it seems like a lifetime.''

Pearl said he saw positives in reviewing tape of UT's 76-57 loss to Kentucky on Sunday.

"We played the game for large portions without worrying about Chris,'' said Pearl, whose team led at the half and trailed by one with 10 minutes left. "It's difficult to score without Chris because we're a team that scores in transition, and he's the best transition player in the country.''

Pearl reiterated his satisfaction with junior wing JaJuan Smith, who scored a career-high 25 points, and said freshman post Wayne Chism made progress.

"We didn't have enough guys step up to win at Rupp Arena,'' Pearl said. "JaJuan made five (3-pointers) and we only got eight; that's not enough.

"I feel our team is playing with good intensity, but at some point there needs to be a step up, another gear. I don't know that we have another gear.''

Pearl conceded Lofton - who scored a career-high 35 in an OT win over Texas and 34 in a romp over Memphis - has been that "extra gear.''

"That's not an excuse,'' Pearl said. "He's an All-American on a team that's obviously not real deep.''

UT freshman point guard Ramar Smith said the two games without Lofton have offered different challenges.

"Teams always have to know where Chris Lofton is on the court,'' Smith said. "More teams are sagging now, and penetration is much harder.''

So is gaining national attention. The Vols received 21 votes in the Associated Press poll, falling to 35th, and didn't garner any votes in the coaches' poll.

Not-So-Great Dane: Pearl said senior Dane Bradshaw "didn't play well'' in the loss to Kentucky, failing to score and getting just two assists.

"You can't believe the toll it takes on him playing that power forward position,'' Pearl said. "They're constantly trying to pound the ball in on him. He expounds a lot of energy on defense.

"Dane can make plays, but there needs to be guys he can make plays for.''

Deciphering Duke: Pearl said part of the reason for Duke Crews' slump is the freshman center's lack of aggression.

"People have identified Duke as one of the better offensive rebounders, and now they've made it a priority to get him off the boards,'' Pearl said. "Duke has to be more aggressive wanting the basketball.''

Stat Flats: This season opponents have had the edge from the floor .450-.447, from the free-throw line .725-.648, on rebounded 37.6-36.9 per game, on assists 15.7-15.5 per game, and on blocked shots - 3.9 to 3.3.