BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tennessee sophomore Duke Crews conducted a TV interview wearing a borrowed beach hat and sunglasses Saturday afternoon.

It was only appropriate.

The Vols are searching for a new look on the court, too, with hopes of advancing past the second round of the NCAA tournament today (TV: WVLT, 2:30 p.m.).

Tennessee (30-4) plays Horizon League champion Butler (30-3) at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex with a trip to the Sweet 16 in Charlotte, N.C., on the line.

The meeting between the East Region's No. 2-seed Vols and No. 7-seed Bulldogs marks the first time in NCAA tournament history two 30-win teams have met in second-round play.

Today marks the first time UT coach Bruce Pearl has entered into a game with Ramar Smith and J.P. Prince as his primary point guard rotation.

"It is an interesting time of year to be doing it,'' Pearl said, in reference to the unusual timing. "Getting my best players on the floor is really why J.P. is playing some at the point.

"And I'm hoping that it was the right decision.''

Prince played point guard at White Station High School in Memphis, in the AAU ranks and at Arizona before transferring to UT.

But since coming to the Vols and sitting out last season, the 6-foot-7 sophomore has been used almost exclusively at small forward.

"I'll do whatever coach wants me to do to help the team,'' said Prince, who will continue to see time on the wing. "I was a point guard before, an All-American (high school) point guard. It's my natural position. I've played point guard my whole life.''

Pearl tried Prince at point guard before this season started, again against Kentucky on March 2 and in Friday's 72-57 win over American in the first round.

"J.P. had only one assist and three turnovers (against American),'' Pearl said of Prince's 21-minute outing, "(but) he made some plays defensively, he took some charges, he actually had a couple of other balls that could have counted as assists, but somebody may have put the ball down on the floor.''

Ramar Smith, who is expected to start today after being benched the first half of Friday's game, had two assists, no turnovers and scored four points in 14 minutes against American.

Smith said he doesn't know how many minutes he'll be asked to play against Butler.

"There's so much being switched up, but it's really best for the team,'' Smith said. "Things happen, what can I say? Ain't too much I can say. If we win, that's what I'm about.''

Jordan Howell said that's what he's about, too, and that's why the senior is keeping his head up.

"I know coach Pearl is just trying to find the best combination on the floor,'' said Howell, who started at point guard against American but has missed his last 14 shots over the past four games. "I'd like to be out there, of course, but it's really about what's best for the team.

"I don't know what's going to happen next, but I know I have to stay up and stay ready.''

First-year Butler coach Brad Stevens, who was an assistant when the Bulldogs defeated UT 56-44 in last season's preseason NIT, said the Vols' multiplicity at the point creates a challenge.

"They all bring different strengths to the table, they all play different ways and Tennessee's a great team with all of them on the floor,'' Stevens said. "As far as Prince goes, obviously he's a tremendous athlete, a guy that brings a lot of energy, a guy that makes plays in transition, can make plays on second chances, can make plays off the drive.''

UT senior JaJuan Smith said the team can handle the point guard adjustments.

"When they're at the point, they know what they got to do and we can read them,'' he said. "We know how to play with all three, and we have just been working on that all season long.

"I think coach is going to put the best point guard on the floor for our opponent."

Orange Slices: Pearl is 6-4 all-time against Butler, including his games as head coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. … Chris Lofton's 106 points in the NCAA tournament rank second in UT history to Dale Ellis 116 set from 1980-83. … JaJuan Smith is averaging 19.2 points and hitting .486 from beyond the 3-point line over the past five games. … UT is 3-0 in NCAA tournament games played in Birmingham, Butler is 4-1. … Both teams have set their respective school's single-season record with 30 wins.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.