CHECKERED PAST

Tennessee hasn't won two games in the SEC tournament since 1991 when the Vols reached the finals and lost to Alabama by 19. They haven't won the title since 1979.

Coach Bruce Pearl is well aware of this checkered past and he aims to change it.

But altering history is not the No. 4-ranked Vols' primary motivation. They have their eyes on a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

"We're playing for a lot this time around," said Pearl, who led Tennessee to its first SEC regular-season championship since 2000. "Not only are we playing for the tournament championship like all other schools, we're playing to try to maintain our position and secure the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament."

Several coaches are calling this as open a tournament as the SEC has had in a while. However, just as many say it's the Vols to lose, history notwithstanding.

"I wouldn't make them the prohibitive favorite; I'd make them the heavy favorite," said Georgia coach Dennis Felton, who pointed to the Vols' multiple offensive weapons and depth. "I just don't think history has anything to do with it. They didn't have as good a team in the past."

BIG BLUE IS BACK

One of the best stories this season is Kentucky's return from the abyss during SEC play. The Wildcats managed to earn the No. 2 seed from the East and a first-round bye after an atrocious non-conference start and despite losing fabulous freshman forward Patrick Patterson late in the season.

It earned Billy Gillispie co-coach of the year honors from his SEC peers.

"Perry Stevenson has played great for us but most importantly I think our guards, Derrick Jasper, Ramon Harris, Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley, have been fantastic since that time," Gillispie said of retooling after Patterson's loss to a stress fracture on Feb. 29. "Every single game since then the numbers have looked different, like Crawford scores 35, Jasper goes 4-for-4 from 3, Harris plays two great games in row, the best games of his career. Those guys have figured out whatever it takes they're going to get it done."

The Wildcats' have had a penchant for pulling out close games. Fifteen of their 16 SEC contests were one- or two-possession decisions in the waning minutes and they were 11-3 in games decided by 10 or fewer points or in overtime.

That, Gillispie said, is what makes his team a threat this postseason.

"I think those teams [that have succeeded in multiple close games] are the ones that are best prepared for conference tournament and postseason play," he said. "We're not going to see anything else for the rest of the year that we haven't already seen. You usually get stronger through those experiences."

DEJA VU

Playing in a conference tournament you're always going to go against a team that you've already faced. But the Georgia Bulldogs will face an Ole Miss squad that whipped them by 14 points on their home court just five days ago. That can't be a good thing, can it?

"I don't know that there are any disadvantages," Felton said. "Both teams will be very, very familiar with each other. It's always one thing for coaches to be prepared for opposing teams but you want your team to be as familiar as possible with the opponent. For our team, it won't be difficult to make certain of that."

It's no secret what the Rebels did to undo Georgia. After falling behind by seven with a little more than 13 minutes remaining, Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy called a timeout and instructed players to get the ball inside. The Rebels scored 19 of their next 26 points in the paint over the next 10 minutes and Georgia managed only six points and that was that.

"We've got to pound it inside, outrun their big men and play harder," said Bulldogs forward Jeremy Price, who drew five fouls during the deciding stretch.

Still, Kennedy claims Georgia was a tough draw.

"In a perfect world I'd just as soon not have to play Georgia," he said. "I think we caught them at a good time and happened to play well, especially in the last 15 minutes of the game."

BUBBLE WATCH

Three SEC teams are coming to Atlanta with their NCAA dance cards secured: No. 4-ranked Tennessee, No. 18 Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. Everybody else either has to play their way into the 65-team tournament or prove their worth with more victories.

But no team needs wins in this tournament more than Ole Miss. The Rebels' 21-9 mark includes a losing record in conference play (7-9). On the other hand, they are on a three-game win streak and an RPI of 43 suggests they're in the hunt.

"I don't know," Kennedy said. "I follow it like everybody follows it but there's so much speculation I try not to live in that world."

LOOKING TO DANCE

Tennessee 27-3 13-2 The Vols are playing for the No. 1 seed.

Vanderbilt 25-6, 10-6 The Commodores, 19-0 at Memorial Gym, need to prove they can win away from home.

Miss. State 21-9, 12-4 Weak West means Dogs need a run to improve NCAA seeding.

Kentucky 18-11, 12-4 'Cats proved they can play without Patrick Patterson.

Arkansas 20-10, 9-7 RPI (42) suggest the Hogs still have work to do.

Florida 21-10, 8-8 Two-time defending national champions have lost seven of last 10 and have no quality wins out of conference.

Ole Miss 21-9, 7-9 Rebels probably need to make the finals to stay out of the NIT.

GEORGIA CONNECTIONS

Almost every year the SEC tournament is in Atlanta you can count on great players from Georgia — the Peach State, that is — competing on the Georgia Dome court.

Not so much this year.

The departure of Atlanta's Randolph Morris from Kentucky to the NBA last year has left the league somewhat lacking for homegrown talent. Only 19 Georgians reside on SEC rosters this season — including 11 between UGA (six) and Auburn (five) — and none of those managed to earn first- or second-team All-SEC honors.

CREAM OF THE CROP

Here are the five of the better SEC players from Georgia:

G Rasheem Barrett Auburn Marist

The junior has started all 29 games, averaging 13.3 point and 4.1 rebounds.

F Quan Prowell Auburn Furman

Leads the Tigers in scoring, rebounding and 3-point shooting.

F Jeremy Price Georgia Columbia

Earned SEC All-Freshman honors as 15-game starter G Billy Humphrey Georgia Dacula

3-point specialist capable of lighting it up

G Dominique Archie S.Carolina Augusta The 6-7 forward has averaged 10.4 points as a 30-game starter.

BEST OF THE BEST

While none of them are from this state, there are still plenty of exceptional basketball players worth paying the price of admission to see.

Foremost among them is Vanderbilt's Shan Foster, who was named SEC Player of the Year this week. The senior wing had a phenomenal season, leading the league in scoring, 3-point attempts and 3-pointers made and making virtually every meaningful shot as Vandy crafted a 19-0 home record. They're still talking in Nashville about the 42 points he put up on Mississippi state on Senior Night.

While Foster is an incredible shooter, Tennessee's Tyler Smith may be the most versatile player in the league. He leads the Vols in assists, rebounds and field-goal percentage. "All the unselfish categories," earl said. "Tyler is one of the most productive players in college basketball."

Jamont Gordon is a similar force for Mississippi State; Devan Downey is a jet as South Carolina's point guard; LSU's Marcus Thornton can score from anywhere, as can Tennessee's Chris Lofton; and 6-foot-6 freshman point guard Nick Calathes looks like the next great one for the Gators.