SAN ANTONIO — One day later, it hurts just as bad.

Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl said he doesn't expect the sting will ever go away from Thursday night's 85-84 loss to No. 1-ranked Ohio State in a South Regional semifinal at the Alamodome.

The fifth-seeded Vols led by as many as 20 points in the first half, but the top-seeded Buckeyes (33-3) rallied for the victory when Greg Oden blocked Ramar Smith's shot at the buzzer

"That loss will be a disappointment that will stay with me forever,'' Pearl said Friday. "But I have winning and losing in perspective, and I feel blessed to have coached this basketball team.''

Departing UT senior Dane Bradshaw said postseason expectations have been raised by this year's Vols, and Pearl said he has no problem with that.

"It (Final Four) is within their grasp if they can stay healthy,'' Pearl said. "A lot can happen in a year, but our program is in a good position.''

Pearl sounds as though he will stay in his position at UT, too.

Asked if he had any interest in the Michigan, Iowa or Kentucky openings, the second-year coach replied, "It's great to be a Tennessee Vol.''

Pearl, who will meet with athletic director Mike Hamilton to discuss his contract next week, said he has yet to be contacted about any openings.

Thursday night's loss ended a 24-11 season that saw the Vols win more games than any UT team but one, the 1999-2000 squad that won 26 under Jerry Green.

Pearl said it was difficult to watch the Vols squander the 20-point first half lead against the Buckeyes, because he felt he let his players down.

"I did not have them prepared well enough in our ball screen defense,'' Pearl said. "They hurt us with the flat screen and the double-high ball screen. I could have helped us more on that.''

Pearl said he groups Thursday night's disappointing loss with other big losses in his career, such as in the 1994 Division II national championship game when he was at Southern Indiana, and the 2002 Horizon League championship game and a first round NCAA tournament loss to Notre Dame in 2003 when he was at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

"That said, I think a win last night (Thursday) would have added to the season we just had, but I don't think the loss takes anything away from it,'' Pearl said. "Tennessee basketball is relevant in the world of big-time college basketball.

"Our focus this summer will be on taking another step.''

Free Throws: The Vols shot a cumulative 53 percent from the free throw line in their 11 losses this season with Thursday's 8-of-17 performance factored in.

"That stat right there speaks volumes,'' Pearl said. "That's something that will get guys in the gym this summer.''

Jones On Move?: UT associate head coach Tony Jones has been mentioned as a candidate for the head coaching job at Marshall by the Huntingdon Herald-Dispatch.

Jones, who recruited Smith, Duke Crews, Josh Tabb and Wayne Chism, has a base salary $155,000. Jones handled the scouting for the Ohio State game and devised the plan to get Oden in foul trouble.

Guarantee: UT sophomore Ryan Childress, who hit 4-of-5 3-pointers, said he and his teammates are eager for the challenge ahead.

"The emphasis has to be on 'team' this offseason, because we're losing a great team player and a great leader in Dane Bradshaw,'' Childress said. "All I can guarantee is we're going to work even harder in this offseason to get this taste out of our mouths.''

Schedule: Pearl said he will give the players one week off from their strength training before beginning a four-week spring training session.

"We're going to meet at the Thornton Center Sunday night and focus on academics,'' Pearl said. "We missed class time while at the SEC tournament and the NCAA tournament.''