Pearl says UT will help SEC rebound

Bruce Pearl says Tyler Smith's decision to return to Tennessee for his senior season should keep the Vols in the talk about the SEC's top teams.

The coach, entering his fifth year with the Vols, thinks the league has the potential to be much stronger during the 2009-10 season because of all the players like Smith who chose to return.

"For us last year, we had very few senior players in the league that were the best players in our league. It was a league that was dominated by underclassmen and young players. The vast majority of the kids that (considered the NBA draft) came back to school," Pearl said during a Monday teleconference of SEC coaches.

"Obviously our league is due to experience a cycle up."

Graduation, early defection to the NBA, transfers and injuries left the SEC teams young and inexperienced last year. Only three SEC players - Kentucky's Jodie Meeks, LSU's Marcus Thornton and Florida's Nick Calathes - were taken in last Thursday's NBA draft.

Smith, a forward, made himself eligible for the draft but withdrew after analysts projected him as a second-round pick.

The Pulaski native was tasked last season with leading a team that was the youngest Pearl had ever coached. Though there were growing pains, the Vols finished 21-13 with a share of the SEC East title, their third in four seasons.

Pearl said his players understand the entire SEC will be better this year and are working hard during the offseason to stay in shape and improve their games. Many of the Vols are participating in the Rocky Top summer basketball league with former Tennessee players and Knoxville area high school graduates.

"We basically bring everybody back from a team that had young guards and a lot of experience in the back court. I think this team has learned a lot about what it can and can't do," Pearl said.

Having Smith return has helped improve the perception of how good Tennessee could be this year, Pearl said. Plus, with leadership help from fellow seniors Wayne Chism, J.P. Prince, Josh Tabb and Bobby Maze, Pearl thinks Smith has a chance to "do some special things."

"If you look at Tennessee's team without Tyler Smith, I think there are those would have us picked somewhere in the middle of the (SEC) East. Now we're back in discussion of being in the upper half of the league," he said.