--Tennessee is celebrating its 100th season of basketball in 2008-09 after coming off its most successful year ever. The Vols won a record 31 games last season and reached a No. 1 national ranking for the first time.

--The Volunteers made more 3-pointers (312) and took more (875) than any other team in the conference, but often overlooked is their perimeter defense. Opponents shot only 31.2 percent -- a league low -- against the Vols from behind the arc.

STRENGTHS
The Vols have a conference Player of the Year candidate -- perhaps even the favorite -- in Tyler Smith. In Wayne Chism and 6-10 Brian Williams, they have impact players inside, and they add to that mix with incoming freshman Philip Jurick.

--Freshman Scotty Hopson gives them a potential threat outside, and junior-college transfer Bobby Maze looks to be the point guard they have missed the last couple of years.

--The Vols once again look to be one of the more athletic teams in the league with the potential to disrupt opponents with their defensive pressure and up-tempo game.

WEAKNESSES
The losses of Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith takes away their top two scorers, and newcomers are going to have to pick up the slack.

--The Vols have been able to jump on opponents early in the year but seem to wear down as the season goes on.

--Despite their 31 wins last season, they never made it past the NCAA Sweet 16, and they lost in the semifinals of the SEC tourney.

LAST YEAR
31-5 overall, 14-2 in the SEC; lost in the NCAA Regional semifinals.

HEAD COACH
Bruce Pearl (career 394-108); fourth year at Tennessee (77-24).

QUOTE TO NOTE
"With more than half our offense gone from last year, this is going to be a very challenging preseason. The personnel is there, although we will probably have the youngest backcourt in America with possibly three new starting guards." -- Bruce Pearl, noting the loss of the top two scorers, Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith, from last season.

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