Let me see if I've been hearing this correctly:

His team surrendered a 20-point lead in the Sweet 16.

And he ought to get a monster raise.

Her team was a ruthless machine the other night and appears capable of a national championship.

And she should stand pat and be grateful.

Do I have it about right?

The respective salaries of Bruce Pearl and Pat Summitt have been grist for the talk-radio mill this week. When the term March Madness originated it had nothing to do with paying basketball coaches. But it certainly applies.

The crazy part is that I think the above premise is more or less correct.

At least the part about giving Pearl a substantial raise is.

A year ago, Tennessee made a point of putting Pearl and Summitt on equal footing. Pearl got a new deal averaging $1.3 million over six years. He made $1.1 million this season and tops out at $1.5 million in 2011-12.

Summitt got a new deal that likewise averages $1.3 million over six years.

It could be argued -- and has been -- that even though it's the same sport played on the same court (named for Summitt), this is really apples and oranges.

Pearl is the new whirlwind, revitalizing men's basketball in a way no one could have dreamed. Think best-case-scenario. Then double it.

Summitt is an icon, the game's winningest coach, an ambassador for the university, for the entire state.

Men's basketball generates significant revenue. Attendance spiked 47 percent in Pearl's first year. Popcorn sales also rose.

Women's basketball, a financial drain nearly everywhere, at least pays its way at UT and even shows a modest profit.

So how do you reflect those circumstances when it's time to pay the coaches?

You do what UT did last year.

Reward Pearl for making men's hoops matter again. If your pockets are deep enough, and apparently UT's were, honor Summitt equally for her unparalleled status.

Now, a year later what do you do?

You respond to the marketplace.

Translation: Pay Pearl whatever it takes to keep him here, without being restricted by how it reflects on Summitt or even football coach Phillip Fulmer.

It's not only apples and oranges but also bananas.

The lay of the land is different this offseason than last. Iowa has already made a pitch to Pearl. The Hawkeyes didn't get far, but more inquiries will follow next year (if not sooner).

Men's athletic director Mike Hamilton hit a home run hiring Pearl. He doesn't want to whiff on keeping him here for a while.

Pearl's deal includes graduated raises, in part to avoid annual negotiations. That doesn't mean the pot can't be additionally sweetened.

How much additional sweetening is appropriate? Check the marketplace.

Kentucky is about to open the vault to try to lure Billy Donovan from Florida. If it succeeds, Florida's considerable vault will be opened to replace him.

I suggest there are other situations that might prove more relevant to Tennessee.

Minnesota, hardly a hoops power broker, just threw down $1.75 million a year for Tubby Smith. It'll be interesting to see what Iowa offers to replace Steve Alford or what Michigan dangles to woo John Beilein from West Virginia.

Closer to home, what will Arkansas pay for an upgrade on Stan Heath?

Shopping for a new coach is only part of the equation. Keeping the one you have is another.

Texas A&M is reportedly boosting hot-ticket Billy Gillespie's deal from $1.25 million to around $2 million. Memphis has sweetened John Calipari's $1.525 million package, though by how much is unclear.

If the marketplace indicates it's time for UT to throw that kind of money at Pearl so be it.

Know this: It pains me to ponder those numbers.

A Knoxville firefighter with 25 years on the job might top out at $60,000. The average Knox County schoolteacher makes $41,000.

I'm hopelessly out of date. I think all of the above coaches, including Fulmer, should be ecstatic to pull in $500K a year.

The marketplace, of course, says otherwise.

If UT is comfortable paying Fulmer $2.1 million, good for him.

Whatever UT feels it can responsibly afford to pay Summitt, good for her.

But when it comes to Pearl, just count the apples. Forget the oranges and bananas.

Pay the man what he's worth on his market, nobody else's.