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ATLANTA - The SEC basketball tournament favorite is as obvious this week as it was last year, according to South Carolina coach Dave Odom. It's just a different favorite.

"Tennessee is as much of a favorite as Florida was last year," Odom said. "Once you get past Tennessee, you probably could make a case for any one of four teams."

But getting past UT will be a challenge for the rest of the tournament field. The fourth-ranked Vols are 28-3, having just won the SEC regular-season championship with a 14-2 record, two games better than Kentucky and Mississippi State.

The Vols will open tournament play Friday in the Georgia Dome against the winner of the South Carolina-LSU game, scheduled for today at 1 p.m.

Other than Florida's back-to-back national championship teams, Odom said UT is as good as any team he has seen in his seven years in the SEC.

"He (UT coach Bruce Pearl) has created a style (of play) that is unique," Odom said. "Probably like a wishbone in football.

"It's a full-court game both ways (offense and defense). You don't get time to breathe."

Odom speaks from recent experience. UT closed out its regular season with an 89-56 victory over the Gamecocks, who also lost to the Vols in mid-January, 80-56.

A reporter asked Odom if UT's lack of a consistent inside presence might make it vulnerable in tournament play.

"They score inside better than you think," Odom said. "They've got what I call 'rotating posts.'

"They tease you with 3s but they beat you (inside 5 feet). Most of their points come inside.

"They shoot those deep 3s and spread you out. Then, they're dunking and throwing alley-oops. It becomes a circus."

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings believes UT's depth gives it another advantage in the four-day tournament.

"They would be the one team that wouldn't be tired if they got to Sunday," Stallings said. "They rotate nine players in and out of there."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.