Thinking Elite, not defeat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Big, burly, long and athletic, Louisville cast a daunting appearance in Bobcats Arena on Wednesday.

The Cardinals coach, Rick Pitino, sports a 7-0 record in NCAA tournament Sweet 16 games and a 13-game win streak over Tennessee.

It's easy to understand how tonight's 9:57 East Region game (TV: WVLT) against the third-seeded Cardinals (26-8) could be intimidating for the second-seeded Vols (31-4).

The UT players, however, showed no signs of trepidation.

Instead, playing a traditional power and wearing the underdog cap for only the second time this season has added a sort of electricity to the UT locker room not seen since the days leading up to the Vols' win over then-No. 1 Memphis just over a month ago.

"This is just what we need right now," UT senior JaJuan Smith said. "It just brings so much energy. We know we can lock up anybody on defense, and this is the time to show it."

Vols' coach Bruce Pearl couldn't agree more.

"I don't think we've played our best game yet . . . for this Tennessee team to advance, we're going to have to," Pearl said. "The stakes are even higher (than the Memphis game); that was an opportunity to be ranked No. 1, this is an opportunity to finish No. 1."

It's also an opportunity for the Vols to make history as the first UT men's basketball team to advance to the Elite 8.

"This is what we've all dreamed about since we were little kids," Smith said. "We're going to try to make the most of it."

Even if that means staring down the vaunted Louisville players and their hall of fame coach.

"We're not scared of anybody," UT sophomore J.P. Prince said. "I know Coach Pearl isn't scared of anybody. We've played the toughest schedule in the country and we've seen every style."

So bring on the vaunted Louisville press, Prince said, even if he is only making his second start at point guard.

"I'll be able to handle the pressure fine," Prince said. "I'd rather be pressed than to have to deal with a half-court defense, because against the press, I can see over the defenders to make the long passes. I have the whole court to work with and some of the best shooters in the country on my side."

Vols sophomore center Wayne Chism, who's matching up against 6-foot-11 David Padgett, a first team All-Big East selection and Louisville's senior captain, said he's not about to get big-timed by anyone.

"Even though I'm from a small town, I'm not going to let someone come in and bogart (back down) me," Chism said. "Coach told us they are tough, but they got to show the toughness on the court. I want to see it. I'm ready to play hard."

Pearl said it's pivotal Chism does just that.

"He (Padgett) is sort of the glue out there to a lot of what they do offensively, and then he gives them a great physical presence," Pearl said. "Wayne Chism is very underrated, and he could outplay Padgett. He needs to outplay Padgett for us to have a chance to win."

UT freshman Brian Williams said he's itching for minutes against the talented Cardinals when Chism needs a rest.

"Coach (Pearl) said Louisville wins every game by out-toughing their opponents," Williams, 6-10, 260, said. "But in New York, where I'm from, they feed on the weak. I've seen (intimidation) every day of my life."

Even Vols' senior All-American Chris Lofton has cause to feel a special challenge.

Lofton admitted Wednesday that, at one time, he regretted not committing to Louisville when he had a chance as a sophomore in high school and held it against the Cardinals that they pulled their scholarship offer.

"When we played (Louisville) my freshman year, it meant a lot for trying to get back at them for not recruiting me so hard," Lofton said. "But it's all over now; it's four years later and we're trying to go to the Elite Eight."

Sophomore Duke Crews rolled his eyes when asked if there was an intimidation factor.

"You don't even need to ask me that, because you know what I'm going to say," Crews said. "We're not intimidated by anybody.

"Look, this season is about making history, and we haven't done that yet. We want to be the first team at the University of Tennessee to make it to the Elite Eight, and it doesn't matter to us who we're playing."

More Lofton: Lofton, who suffered an injured left foot in the Vols' win over Butler on Sunday, went through the Vols' 50-minute public practice session at Bobcats Arena without showing any favoritism to the foot.

"I could have played (Tuesday), coach just wanted me to rest," said Lofton, who was in a protective walking-boot and received electronic-stimulus treatment during Tuesday's practice. "I don't remember what happened to it. I just remember coming in at halftime and it hurting."

No Run: Pearl said the Vols plan to pick and choose when they play uptempo with Louisville.

"I don't want a track meet because I think we've got no chance to win a track meet," said Pearl, who also declined a 40-minute uptempo game against Memphis. "But I think we're going to run some, and then when there are times we need to be patient, we will be patient."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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