Mike Strange

The ride Saturday from the Lexington hotel to Cliff Hagan Stadium was silent.

Sprawled across the office wall behind Dave Hart’s desk is a photographic mural. It depicts University of Tennessee athletes in various endeavors.

They work in a state-of-the-art football palace. Every gadget and gizmo is at their disposal.

The design is to play fast football. To gain an edge by wearing down defenses. Make ’em so tired they, well, barf right there on the field.

“Bradshaw looks. Still Looking. Throws the ball to Lofton. Lofton in the corner, fall-away for the win ... GOOD!”

Now it gets serious. After allowing us three days to catch our breath, the men’s NCAA basketball tournament resumes tonight.

Two basketball teams meet in a strange gym on short notice. The stakes are all or nothing. It’s called March Madness.

The benchmark of a successful season in sports is that you’re either playing for championships or gaining ground on doing so.

Tennessee got Robert Morrissed on Wednesday night, without bothering with a trip to Robert Morris.

To a street-clothes, sideline observer, the subtleties of a football practice are hard to fathom.

March Madness Pop Quiz: Can anybody out there name the NIT defending champion?

So Tennessee’s men were rejected Sunday, told their body of work from a Nov. 9 tipoff through Friday’s SEC tournament exit wasn’t good enough.

NASHVILLE — At first Friday, everything went in.

NASHVILLE — Be ready. No matter what, be ready.

NASHVILLE — If Tennessee plans to hang around Bridgestone Arena long enough to leave an impression this week, the Vols, among other things, have to let the big dog eat.