It seems longer than two years since Bruce Pearl's first opening night. So much has happened to Tennessee basketball so fast.

He inherited a program that hadn't been ranked in more than four years. He inherited an arena that was too big, a fan base that was too jaded and/or apathetic.

And still, that first opening night was fun and full of hope. A nice crowd turned out to applaud a romp over East Tennessee State.

After the final horn Pearl did something unheard of, sending his players into the stands to thank the fans for coming out.

I remember Stanley Asumnu saying, "We want it to be like this every night."

Well, sorry, Stanley. It's not like that anymore.

It's better.

Pearl's third opening night was bigger and better than his first, a reflection that his team and the program are bigger and better as well.

The Vols reported to tipoff Friday night against Temple ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll. A capacity crowd of 21,817 filled both the nosebleed seats and the new luxury suites in a better (though not bigger) Thompson-Boling Arena.

A workmanlike 80-63 win in the books, Pearl began his press conference by urging the fans to come back to campus this morning and support the football Vols against Arkansas.

"I'm calling out the fans," said Pearl. "We've got to get there early. We've got to get there for warm-ups."

A few minutes later, he reflected on how his perspective has changed between his first opening night and his third, and chuckled at himself:

"Here I am (two) years later calling the fans out to get to Neyland Stadium early.

"Before, I was saying thank you. Now, I'm telling 'em what to do."

Then he called out his players and told them what to do - play better defense.

It's not an original message. He's been harping on it since the day the 2006-07 season ended in San Antonio.

A year ago, 13 teams shot 50 percent or better against the Vols. That included Ohio State in the Sweet 16 and LSU in the one-and-done SEC tournament. UT ranked last in the SEC, allowing an average of 45.7 percent.

"A lot of people say we're not a great defensive team," said senior JaJuan Smith. "When you say you're not a great defensive team, that means you're not tough and you're not physical."

Yep. That's pretty much taking the words right out of the boss's mouth:

"We're not tough enough overall as a team," Pearl said Friday night. "We have some guys who are tough that don't like it when I say that."

Nobody likes hearing they're not tough enough. That goes for cornerbacks, clean-up hitters and goalkeepers as well as point guards.

"Coach is going to say that to make us think that we're not (tough enough)," said sophomore Ramar Smith, "but from last year I think we've improved a lot."

OK, there were a few signs Friday night that the Vols are getting the message. After Temple hit six of its first seven shots, Tennessee started playing defense like it was something more than a way to kill time until the next fast break.

The Owls finished at 39 percent. Their one-two punch of Dionte Christmas and Mark Tyndale was a combined 7-of-26.

"They played tough," said center Wayne Chism, "and we played tough, too.

"We're tough enough, man. We're getting a thing about playing defense."

At one point in the second half, Temple missed a shot and 7-foot center Sergio Olmos grabbed the rebound. But before he could gather himself Tyler Smith ripped the ball away from Olmos and triggered a break that Josh Tabb finished.

That's being tough.

That's exactly the kind of play Tennessee needs more of to ensure that Pearl's third closing night is just as rewarding as this opening night.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.