Adams: Pearl was sick to sweat out Florida

The personnel and styles of play have changed for both Florida and Tennessee. But the results have been the same.

UT keeps winning. Florida keeps losing.

And UT coach Bruce Pearl keeps trying to explain it.

It's actually easier for him to explain how he nearly became a human puddle on his first night of work at Florida's O'Connell Center three years ago. UT's 76-72 victory almost became a sidebar to the greater human drama being acted out at court side and poured into millions of televisions across the country via ESPN.

"I still get asked about it," Pearl said. "They still perceive me to be one of the sweatiest men in college basketball."

This wasn't about a few beads of sweat on the brow or an underarm badge of an impassioned, hard-working coach in the heat of battle. Pearl was soaked from the lapels to the cuffs of his pants. Albert Brooks didn't sweat that much in "Broadcast News."

"Working up a healthy sweat" never came to mind watching Pearl. Viewers wondered if he were ill.

"I was ill," he said. "That story never got written.

"I coached that game with 101 fever. I didn't want that discussed."

Pearl said he didn't feel bad, just a little hot and more than a little wet. The fever broke later that night, and he felt fine the next day.

Having endured a cram course in deep-southern heat and humidity, the native Northeasterner rethought his wardrobe.

"I will never wear a light suit (in Gainesville) again," he said.

That's just one more change that hasn't altered the course of the rivalry. Pearl's Vols will enter Sunday afternoon's game at the O'Connell Center with a 6-1 record against the Gators. Moreover, they were 3-1 against Florida's two national championship teams. Most recently, they routed Florida 79-63 in Knoxville at the end of January. The only time they lost with Pearl, they were without scoring star Chris Lofton, two years ago in Gainesville.

UT's success against Florida is magnified by Florida's success against everyone else. The SEC has produced only a few teams comparable to the Gators' back-to-back national champions. For further contrast, you have the UT-Florida football rivalry, which the Gators have dominated under coach Urban Meyer.

But when you cross the street from The Swamp to the O'Connell Center, the Power T regains its strength, the rivalry turns topsy-turvy and miracles occur in solid orange.

"Miracle" is Pearl's word, not mine. It's his first response to the question: "Have you got Billy Donovan's number?"

"We have had two miracles finishes (in victories against Florida)," he said. "Actually, three miracle finishes."

He then recounts Lofton's steal, C.J. Watson's deflection, and Dane Bradshaw's layup from the final frantic seconds of games past; then adds last year's "miraculous" comeback in Gainesville.

"If they win those games, nobody is asking us about (having Donovan's number)," Pearl said.

Although no miracle finish was necessary earlier this season, you hardly would characterize UT's one-sided victory as business as usual. A UT team that so often has been shaky on the perimeter made 12 of 28 3-point field-goal attempts in beating Florida at its own game.

It was just another reminder that UT basketball is the antithesis of UT football when it comes to Florida. The Gators bring out the worst in UT football. They bring out the best in UT basketball.

"There's no question that Florida means a lot to our athletic department," Pearl said. "It means a lot to (UT athletic director) Mike Hamilton. You compete with Florida, men and women, for the top spot for an overall athletic program.

"That combined with two national championship ... It's a game that our guys clearly get excited about playing."

And it doesn't matter whether the Vols are sinking are surging when they encounter the Gators. Pearl's first team struggled down the stretch, losing five of its last eight games, but it still managed to knock off the eventual national champions in the midst of that tailspin.

So even though UT has lost three consecutive SEC road games, you would expect it to be primed and ready for the Gators. Its coach will be ready, too, dressed for success in a very dark suit.

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