Strange: Ferguson pulling for Vols, except for Friday

DAYTON, Ohio - Chris Ferguson leaned against the wall outside the locker room Thursday afternoon. One after another, Tennessee folks stopped by with a hug or a handshake.

If you stay around college basketball long enough, the past and the present will surely collide. Old friends will show up as new rivals. Old rivals become new friends.

"I pull for Tennessee, I still pull for those guys,'' Ferguson said.

Except for Friday.

For eight years Ferguson was an assistant coach and chief recruiter for Tennessee, four years under Jerry Green starting in 1997, and four more under Buzz Peterson, ending in 2005.

Friday, he'll be on the Oklahoma State bench, trying to help the Cowboys send the Vols packing back to Knoxville in a first-round NCAA tournament game.

He's in his second season as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State and loving life in Stillwater. Sean Sutton hired him in 2007, then Travis Ford retained him when he took over in 2008.

"God's been good to me,'' Ferguson said. "I'm living the dream. Every game is a sell-out. They love their college basketball.''

It's a small college town, Starkville on the plains, if you will. The nearest malls are 45 minutes away in Tulsa or Oklahoma City.

This he knows: You can't mention Oklahoma University in Stillwater and get a smile.

And this: You recruit Texas like your life depends on it because it does. He can direct you to every high school in Dallas.

"No question,'' he said. "And Houston.''

Four years removed from Tennessee, Ferguson's direct connections to the Vols have dwindled to a few.

"He's one of those guys who cares about you,'' said UT grad assistant Aaron Green, who played his final two years under Jerry Green and Ferguson. "That's the thing I respect most about Chris.

"And he's a great recruiter.''

Which is how he got to know junior forward Tyler Smith.

"I remember Coach Ferg sitting in the stands back in ninth grade,'' Smith said. "We had a good relationship. I love Coach Ferg.''

By the time Smith got to campus, Ferguson was long gone.

He watched from afar (East Carolina) as Bruce Pearl arrived and worked a miracle with the players Peterson left.

"I was elated for those guys,'' Ferguson said, "just elated.

"What happens sometimes is there's a different system, a different philosophy, on the court and off. And those guys embraced it.

"Dane Bradshaw, Chris Lofton, JaJuan (Smith), C.J. (Watson), they believed in it and they had enough talent. When that happens, you can be successful.''

Tennessee has sustained success under Pearl, success that includes first-round NCAA wins in his first three seasons.

Friday, the Vols will be hard-pressed to extend that string to a fourth year.

Oklahoma State has flourished under a new coach the way UT did under Pearl. Ford, who was an All-SEC guard for Rick Pitino at Kentucky in 1993, spurred the Cowboys back to the Big Dance after a three-year drought.

The turning point was a 99-74 loss at Texas on Feb. 10, or, more precisely, the hell-on-earth four-hour practice that followed.

"We were scoring points,'' Ferguson said, "but we were giving up too many easy shots. Once we committed to defense, that's when we got better.''

And won eight of their remaining 10 games.

And so it was that on Selection Sunday the Cowboys gathered to watch the bracket show.

"Our name popped up,'' said Ferguson, "and everybody jumps up and starts clapping.

"Then when Tennessee pops up right below, everybody stops clapping and turns around and looked at me.''

Within an hour, he had 45 text messages from old Tennessee ties, mostly former players.

"I still keep in touch with all of 'em,'' said Ferguson.

There are a lot of memories, most of them pleasant. Friday, Ferguson and the Vols will make one more.

"I don't want to play them in the first round,'' he said, "but it is what it is so you've got to do it.

"I wouldn't mind playing 'em in the Final Four. That means both of us had a special year.''

Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews or 865-342-6276.