One and done. Those three dreaded words keep coming back to bite the Big Orange in the basketball behind.

Coach Bruce Pearl had so desperately wanted to guide his team through to today's semifinal games at the Georgia Dome, games by the way you'll be able to see on WVLT, Volunteer-TV. Since the league expanded in 1992, the Vols have not been able to make it past second round play.

Pearl says the SEC tournament failures were serving as motivation for a team he hoped would make history with Hotlanta. Instead, history continues to tell a different tale when it comes to UT and postseason play. However, that's part of the attitude Pearl is trying to change on the Hill, and even in defeat Thursday night or early Friday morning as it was, I witnessed a band of Tennessee players still confident in their abilities and still possessing the desire to get the job done.

Sure, some heads were down, but most of these kids looked ready to keep fighting. That's certainly an attribute they'll need as they jump further into the Madness of March next week.

I also see a group of players and a program maturing. Yes, it isn't easy to lose, it's even harder to move on and hold your head high. Example, SEC player of the year Chris Lofton, who in the past, may not have acted this way, but while walking off the court and called upon by some of the Big Orange backers, Lofton walked over to one of the fans and signed a ballcap.

By the way, another sign that times are changing, what I considered to be a large contingent of Orange for a first round game at the Dome. Unfortunately, they would see the SEC's hottest team run into maybe the SEC's most dangerous team, a team with something to prove after making it to last year's Final Four.

Now the Vols have something to prove. After the game Thursday night, senior Dane Bradshaw said the Vols have the confidence in each other to get the job done.

Taking that passion to another level, there's no greater motivating factor and it's what March is all about.

There's nothing quite like March Madness, and as Pearl said on Wednesday, it's great to still be working, but he'd also be the first to tell you that isn't enough.

Tennessee's chance at redemption comes soon, and you'll be able to find out where Sunday night as CBS and Volunteer-TV bring you the NCAA selection show beginning at 6.