The Tennessee Vols showed no interest in doing VFL Steven Pearl any favors in the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. They had other priorities in Nashville.
Never mind that Tennessee (22-10) already had clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament. A second-round 72-62 victory over Auburn was hardly a waste of time.
After losing three of their past four games – while at less than full strength – the Vols regained their footing and bolstered their confidence with a victory in their SEC Tournament opener. The defeat could prove costly for Pearl, who played for his father at Tennessee.
