Vols open tournament play with LSU

Tennessee and LSU will square off this afternoon at 3:15 p.m. in the opening round of the 2010 SEC Basketball Tournament.

The Vols hope for a strong showing to help cement at least a four seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

But based on its track record, winning won’t be easy.

With all the success Tennessee has enjoyed during the Bruce Pearl era, the Vols are only 3-4 in the conference tournament under Pearl — and two of the three wins came last season. After receiving a first round bye last year, the Vols won consecutive games on Friday and Saturday before losing on Sunday’s title game to Mississippi State.

However, for Tennessee, just making an appearance in the championship game is an accomplishment.

Prior to 2009, Tennessee last appeared in the tournament championship game during Wade Houston’s second season in 1991. That year the Vols won three games in three days, taking out Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Georgia before running out of gas against Alabama.

The last time Tennessee won the conference tournament was all the way back in 1979. The thirty-year drought can only surpassed by one other conference school (Vanderbilt).

Last Matchup

A team eager to make a tournament run might look past an opening round matchup against a two-win opponent at the bottom of the SEC Western Division. But that shouldn’t be the case if the Vols remember its trip to Baton Rouge earlier this season. In that game, Tennessee edged the Tigers 59-54 — a score much closer than most expected. Wayne Chism scored 20 points and was the only Volunteer in double figures.

Vols and Tigers in the tourney

Tennessee and LSU have met a total of nine times in conference tournament play, with the Vols holding a 6-3 edge.

Last time as a three seed

The last time Tennessee was a three seed in the Eastern Division was in 2007. That year, the Vols lost to LSU 76-67 in overtime.

Home away from home?

Tennessee is 7-1 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena under Bruce Pearl.

Where’s Skylar?

Skylar McBee’s minutes have all but vanished as of late. During the last four games of the season the freshman averaged less than four minutes per contest and did not play in the most recent game against Mississippi State.