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Remembering Tennessee basketball’s four games vs. Rick Barnes-led Texas

By Caleb Calhoun

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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PROVIDENCE, RI – MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Tennessee Volunteers directs his players in the first half against the San Diego State Aztecs during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament on March 18, 2010 at the Dunkin Donuts Arena in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PROVIDENCE, RI – MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Tennessee Volunteers directs his players in the first half against the San Diego State Aztecs during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament on March 18, 2010 at the Dunkin Donuts Arena in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

78. 467. Austin, Texas. Regular Season Game. Erwin Center. 534. 2005-2006. 95

Rank: 2; Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005

It was the coming out game for Bruce Pearl. A year after firing Buzz Peterson, Tennessee basketball was entering a new era. Pearl was going to revitalize the program, but he inherited a team that went 14-17 the year before and lost two starters: leading scorer Scooter McFadgon and center Brandon Crump, who averaged 11 points a game.

Add in the fact that he added no transfers and lost three members of his recruiting class with two-star Ryan Childress the only addition, and expectations were low. However, after a 5-0 start against lesser programs that saw them average over 86 points a game, interest was growing, especially with the football team that year suffering its first losing season since 1988.

Texas, meanwhile, started the year No. 2 and the week before this game played the Duke Blue Devils for the No. 1 spot. They lost 97-66, but they still entered this game ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and No. 7 in the Coaches Poll. Simply put, they were heavy favorites.

Well, on a random December Saturday afternoon, the Vols showed that they were a different team under Pearl. Lofton put his shooting prowess on display, scoring 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting. C.J. Watson had 17 points, four assists and three steals. Andre Patterson, JaJuan Smith and Major Wingate all had 12 points.

Despite a team with Lamarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson and P.J. Tucker, the Vols dominated. They built a 20-point first-half lead and at one point had a 13-0 run. This win got them back in the top 25 for the first time since the Jerry Green years.

Texas still had the better year, going 30-7 and reaching the Elite Eight. However, the Vols did go 22-8, won the SEC East and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001, getting to the second round. They had arrived under Pearl, and this was the game to show that.

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