TENNESSEE SEC PREVIEW: Pearl downplays Vols' status as favorites in SEC East

— Second in a series previewing SEC basketball teams

Like most coaches, Tennessee's Bruce Pearl is happy to play the "no respect" card if he thinks it will help his team.

That no doubt was part of his recent speech to the Volunteers about the SEC games that CBS chose to broadcast this season.

"When Kentucky has got seven CBS games and Tennessee has got two CBS games, the torch has not been passed," Pearl said. "This league is still about the Wildcats."

The funny thing is, Pearl furthered that notion earlier this week when he proclaimed Kentucky his pick to win the conference championship. It seems Pearl is so determined to play the "no respect" card that he's even willing to do some of the disrespecting.

Most preseason prognosticators disagree with Pearl's assessment. Tennessee, which returns four starters from last year's team that came within an eyelash of advancing to the Elite Eight, was the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC championship at the league's media days.

Undeterred, Pearl simply reached deeper into his bag ofmotivational tricks. He talked about the lingering sting of losing a 17-point halftime lead to Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament.

"That's the last 20 minutes of basketball that we remember, and it sickens us," Pearl said. "I've probably mentioned the Ohio State loss a dozen times in seven practices."

Because that loss prevented the Vols from moving past the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history, Pearl also said he's continued to tell his team it is viewed largely as an underdog.

"The University of Tennessee men's basketball program has never been past the Sweet 16," Pearl said. "We've got work to do, so it's easy to take that approach."

Whatever the approach, Tennessee won't be an underdog in many games this season. Its role as a favorite starts with senior guard Chris Lofton, perhaps the best shooter in thecountry.

A consensus second-team All-American last season, Lofton led the SEC in scoring (20.8 points per game) and three-pointers (3.42 per game). He also ranked fourth in freethrow shooting (81.1 percent) while earning player of the year honors.

"Chris Lofton is 'World B. Free,' he is Vinnie 'The Microwave' Johnson, he is Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe. He's old school," Pearl said. "But he may not even know those guys. He probably thinks Earl 'The Pearl' is my uncle."

For the record, Lofton said he has some knowledge of Monroe.

"I've heard of him," Lofton said with a smile. "That was a long time ago."

Lofton is more concerned with making the most of his senior season, completing the transformation of the Vols from "the laughingstock of the SEC" when he arrived in 2004 to alegitimate title contender.

When pressed, even Pearl conceded Tennessee looks poised for a run at the league championship.

"You should expect this Tennessee team to compete for the SEC championship. That's reasonable," Pearl said. "We've got a deep team, we've got great senior guards, and we should be there.

"Now, whether we go beyond where we've been, I don't know, but that needs to be the expectation."

Lofton is surrounded by a wealth of talented players. Senior guard JaJuan Smith ranked ninth in the SEC in scoring (15.2) and second in steals (2.09).

Three All-SEC Freshman Team players - guard Ramar Smith (10.7 points, 3.1 assists), and sophomore forwards Duke Crews (8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds) and Wayne Chism (9.1 points, 5.2 rebounds) - are back.

This season's list of newcomers is headed by two transfers, 6-7 forward Tyler Smith (Iowa) and 6-7 guard J.P. Prince (Arizona).

While Prince, a cousin of former Kentucky Wildcat and current Detroit Piston Tayshaun Prince, won't be eligible until Dec. 15, Smith can play immediately.

Smith even garnered one vote for SEC Player of the Year.

"He's a really good, really good player," Pearl said. "He plays hard, and he plays productively."

Hype and motivational ploys aside, Lofton said Tennessee's focus is set squarely on not letting another chance at making school history slip away.

"It's great to be all those preseason things, but you've got to realize the preseason really means nothing," Lofton said. "It's what you do at the end that matters." NEXT AuburnAt a glance COACH Bruce Pearl (46-19 in third season at Tennessee, 132-57 in seventh season overall) LAST SEASON 24-11, 10-6 SEC KEY LOSSES F Dane Bradshaw KEY RETURNEES G Chris Lofton, G JaJuan Smith, G Ramar Smith, F Duke Crews, C Wayne Chism KEY NEWCOMERS G J.P. Prince, F Tyler Smith PROJECTED FINISH First in SEC East

Sports, Pages 25 on 10/27/2007

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