Allan Houston has seen how low Tennessee basketball can sink. Perhaps that's why he is taking so much pleasure in the Vols recent resurgence.

"I'm excited to see that Tennessee's back in the NCAA tournament," UT's all-time leading scorer said on the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page, this week. "It's exciting for the school.

"What they've done this year is amazing because if you look at what they have this year, you would think they didn't have as much as they had last year, talent-wise. I think Coach (Bruce) Pearl and his staff and everybody has done a great job."

The times were never as good when Houston roamed the perimeter from 1989-93. The Vols were 49-74 during his career. In 1993, the Vols finished 5-22 in Houston's final season, which led to his father, Wade Houston, being released as coach.

"There was pain," the younger Houston said. "I don't like to look back and point fingers at all. I'm just glad that the new regime is dedicated to basketball. What was painful for me at the time was that I wasn't sure that was the case at the time."

That pain kept Houston from being associated with UT throughout his NBA career. He was rarely seen in Knoxville. Then, all that changed when UT's newly hired athletic director, Mike Hamilton, reached out to Houston.

"I spoke to Mike even before I spoke to Coach Pearl," Houston said. "Mike shared with me his vision. You could tell that it was genuine. It wasn't 'We're trying to turn this thing around so we can look good.' A relationship is a two way street."

The relationships that UT has built with Houston and other former Vols, such as Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld, should only help the Vols in the future, Houston said.

"They have a good grasp of honoring the relationship of older guys," Houston said. "There has to be that connection for young high school players to be able to appreciate the program."

Speaking to Houston, it seems that UT's basketball future is limitless -- and still untapped. Houston said he's particularly impressed with UT's freedom on offense and it's focus on defense.

"Imagine if they played this way and they also had skillful guys with size that could create their own shots, which is going to happen," Houston said. "The talent pool is just going to grow."

It's hard not to compare Houston to Chris Lofton, UT's leading scorer this season. The two are arguably the best shooters in school history. Houston has definitely taken notice.

"Chris has one of those strokes," Houston said. "When it leaves his hand, you don't' think it's ever going to miss."

That sounds familiar.