It is Beginning To Look A Lot Like..

...March Madness!

It might be the busiest week of the Christmas shopping season, but the Vol basketball team has given UT fans reason to believe in more than just Santa. Their win over 15th ranked Oklahoma State last night has the Vols looking more-and-more like a legitimate NCAA Tournament team.

UT did it without a big game from Chris Lofton. Granted, he scored twenty. But he was just 5 of 15 from the floor, and 3 of 8 from behind the 3-point arc. And that's ok. Lofton has carried this team in recent games. Although he tries, he can't do it all.

What is most encouraging about last night's win, is the way the Vols reacted to Bruce Pearl's challenge. After the Western Kentucky game, Pearl said he needed better play from his inside freshman players-- Duke Crews and Wayne Chism.

On Monday, he got it. Crews scored a career high 17. The Vols were outrebounded, but scrappy enough to make defensive plays and force turnovers. Dane Bradshaw has been showered with praise for his game-winning basket. But he also forced a turnover (with the game tied at 77), that gave UT its chance to win.

Enjoy the holidays, and dream about March.