Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl said tonight's game is all about his team, and not the opponent.

That's good, because Division II Arkansas-Monticello will have just one returning letterman on the court for tonight's 7:30 game at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"I want our kids to see how hard Tennessee plays, and then we'll see if they want to make the commitment to play the same way so we can go eight or nine deep,'' said Boll Weevils coach Mike Newell, who was coach at Arkansas Little-Rock when they beat Notre Dame and took North Carolina State to double-overtime in 1986. "I've been on the other side; I know it could get ugly.''

The No. 7 Vols, meanwhile, will deal with at least two of the three biggest issues confronting them: Chris Lofton's early-season shooting woes, and the team's offensive continuity.

As for issue No. 3, getting sophomore center Duke Crews into the playing rotation, that might be on hold.

"Duke has to stay ready; he may play in this game, he may not play until Friday,'' Pearl said. "He's only had four practices all season, and it's hard to rotate him in.

"Who are you going to take out? Wayne (Chism) and Brian (Williams) haven't done anything to be taken out.''

Crews, who was suspended for 30 days for a violation of team rules and upon returning sprained an ankle that he's just now getting over, said the situation is hard.

"I just have to wait my turn,'' Crews said. "It's frustrating, but it's not like the guys in there aren't doing a good job. I just stay positive and focused. I want to play, but it's whatever is best for the team.''

As for Lofton, the All-American shooting guard has tried to adjust his preparations.

"I'm just trying to shake it off,'' Lofton said. "I've been resting and relaxing a lot more. I still shoot before practice.''

Lofton stayed so late after practice last week, he was asked to leave the gym.

"I've just toned it down a bit,'' Lofton said. "People told me I was thinking about (the misses) a lot, and I guess I was. I came in thinking I had to make everything and put too much pressure on myself.''

Lofton was 0-for-5 beyond the 3-point arc and 1-of-8 shooting from the floor in the 80-63 win over Temple on Friday.

Aaron Green, who is the graduate manager for the team, laughed when asked about Lofton's so-called shooting "slump.''

"People think if he misses a few shots he's in a slump,'' said Green, a member of the 1998-99 UT team that won the SEC East before spending seven years as Cleveland High School's coach. "I haven't paid attention to it because all great players miss shots.

"Chris passed well, isn't turning it over and he's playing defense.''

Pearl pointed to the same things.

"Chris played great defense and had five assists and one turnover,'' said Pearl. "He was our best breakdown guy. He looked more like C.J. Watson.

"The same thing happened earlier in the year last season. He's going to find his way.''

He Hears You: Lofton smiled when asked if he heard the fans yelling for him to shoot most every time he touched the ball on the perimeter in the second half.

What was he thinking when he heard the fans?

"I was thinking, 'Man, it's not going in!' '' Lofton said, still smiling.

Thanks NCAA, Pilot: Pearl said the rapid maturation of Williams and Cameron Tatum, both freshmen, could be attributed to a change in rules and the Pilot Rocky Top League.

"I don't think either would be as ready to go if not for the NCAA changing the rule that allows us to get them in school in the summer,'' Pearl said. "That helped get them set academically.

"I think them playing in the Rocky Top league this summer was the other major contributor.''

Pearl said sophomore transfer Tyler Smith looks good, but "will continue to find his niche in what we do.''

Pistol Partner: Newell was a freshman at LSU when SEC legend Pete Maravich was a senior.

"Every day, I went against him, and he was a great guy,'' said Newell, who transferred to Sam Houston State and is in the school's hall of fame. "Every practice was just unbelievable with him.''

Newell also spent four years as an assistant coach to Billy Tubbs at Oklahoma, and said when the Boll Weevils have four players eligible in mid-December he's considering playing an uptempo style similar to UT's.

Extra Work: Smith and Williams were two of the players taking extra shots (in addition to Lofton, despite his pledge to tone it down) from the free throw line.

"Got to,'' said Smith. "I've got to get better.''

Smith shot 73 percent from the line last season at Iowa.

Williams said he shot 84 percent last year.

"You watch, I'm going to be at the four next year,'' said Williams, stepping outside and draining three straight 3-pointers as proof of his range.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.