For Pearl, time allows for SEC plan

TAMPA, Fla. - Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl arrived at the team hotel with a smile on his face early Wednesday evening.

"We've had two good days of practice where we competed and were able to go live both days,'' said Pearl. "I think our attitude is good; that day off Monday really helped us.''

The Vols worked out in Knoxville on Wednesday before flying to Tampa.

The Vols (19-11) will practice again this morning at the St. Pete Times Forum before attending the opening game of the SEC basketball tournament between Kentucky and Ole Miss at 1 p.m.

"Then we'll meet for an hour on Alabama, and we'll meet for an hour on Vanderbilt,'' Pearl said. "We'll meet again after the Alabama-Vandy game (7:30 p.m.) and go through the scouting report.''

UT assistant coach Jason Shay has the scout for both teams, as he scouted those opponents during the regular season.

Pearl said he expects a challenge in the Vols' opening game at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of tonight's game between the Crimson Tide (17-13) and the Commodores (19-11).

He also said he expects Tennessee to play better than it did in its regular-season finale against Alabama, a 70-67 loss Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"I still feel like we have some momentum from that three-game stretch we had against Mississippi State, Florida and South Carolina,'' Pearl said. "The big thing is we're focused on doing something at Tennessee that hasn't been done since 1979.''

That would be win the SEC tournament.

Pearl said he believes each game UT wins in Tampa equates to a half-seed higher in the NCAA tournament.

Rough Landing: UT associate head coach Tony Jones said the players were a little more at ease once the plane touched down.

"I think they're more relaxed after our landing, where the plane seemed to nosedive on its approach to the runway,'' Jones said. "It felt like it was going to somersault.

"I think they are in good spirits, ready to go out and have a nice supper.''

Student Tickets: UT students headed to Florida for spring break can buy tickets to see the Vols play in the SEC tournament for a discounted price.

Students with a valid UT ID can get tickets for $10 at the UT player/pass gate 90 minutes before any session in which the Vols are playing.

With a win Friday, the Vols would play at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. Another win puts UT in the tournament title game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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