COLUMBUS, Ohio — Chris Lofton knows he can’t afford to slip up in today’s NCAA tournament opener against Long Beach State.

So it is with great caution the Tennessee junior is changing models of team-issued adidas shoes in preparation for today’s 2:45 p.m. game (TV: WVLT) against the 49ers (24-7) in the South Regional at Nationwide Arena.

"These shoes don’t slide,’’ said Lofton, who, like the rest of his teammates will be wearing the "NCAA Bounce’’ model, "and they’re light. I’ll be all right this time.’’

The Vols (22-10) better hope so.

The last time Lofton switched shoes the results weren’t pretty. Some may snicker, but numbers don’t lie: Lofton hit 34 percent of his shots over five games after leaving the "Piranhas’’ model he wore up until suffering a sprained ankle for the "KG’’ style shoes.

Lofton switched back to the Piranhas model for the final four games of the season and hit 51 percent of his shots.

"You’ll notice I switched back to my old shoes,’’ Lofton said after breaking out of the slump.

You’ll also notice UT typically only goes as far as Lofton takes them.

Lofton hit 7 of 21 shots in last year’s second-round loss to Wichita State in the NCAA tournament and was 4 of 14 in last year’s SEC tournament loss to South Carolina.

Lofton made 8 of 16 from the field in last Thursday’s SEC tournament loss to LSU, but was 2 of 4 from the free-throw line, both misses coming late when UT was trying to cinch the game.

Pearl said Lofton, the Associated Press’ SEC Player of the Year, accounts for roughly half of the Vols’ offensive sets.

"I’d say 50 percent or more of our half-court offense runs through him,’’ Pearl said Thursday. "Chris Lofton is the best-contested shooter in the country. If he can see it, he can make it.’’

Long Beach State coach Larry Reynolds has taken note.

"He can stress the defense so much that he actually almost takes you out of where you normally would defend a player,’’ Reynolds said. "The other thing is, he can get the ball in transition and create stuff for himself and other people.

"You know, we just can’t let him free anywhere on the court.’’

Lofton’s 3-point prowess is well documented. He led the SEC with 3.32 per game this season in addition to leading the conference in scoring (20.6 points per game). Lofton made at least five 3-pointers in eight games.

Lofton has added the ability to drive to his repertoire this season.

"Last year he was a shooter,’’ Pearl said. "This year he’s a scorer.’’

Pearl said Lofton spent a month at summer practice working solely on driving.

"We did not allow him to ever come off a screen and catch and stick (shoot),’’ Pearl said. "I think he’s got over 160 (146) free throws attempted this year; last year he had like 60.’’

Lofton has always been known as a gym rat of sorts who shows up early and stays late practicing his 3-pointers and free throws.

Now, he’s added another drill.

"I’ve touched my game up around the basket,’’ Lofton said. "I like spinning the ball off the glass (on drives), so I work on that every day before practice.’’

Pearl said the green light is always on for his sharpshooter.

"The other day, we were talking (to the team) about patience offensively,’’ Pearl said. "I said to Chris, when I’m talking to the team, don’t listen to me. You shoot the ball when you’re open.’’

Rim Rattler: Thompson-Boling Arena manager Tim Reese brought his "Rim Tester’’ to measure the elasticity of the Nationwide Arena rims.

The rims and backboards are the same as the Vols used in their 68-66 loss at Ohio State on Jan. 13 when UT hit just 7 of 31 attempts (22.6 percent) beyond the arc.

Reese explained the acceptable measurement by NCAA standards was "between 35 and 50’’ on his apparatus’ scale, with the higher number meaning the rims are looser and have more flexibility.

Though the Columbus rims are within the bounds, they are tighter than the friendly rims UT played with in Knoxville.

"Ours (at Thompson-Boling) were a 46,’’ Reese said. "These are 39-40 on one end, 43 on the other.’’

The rim in front of the UT bench is the looser of the two rims in play today.