The Tennessee Volunteers will dust off their dancing shoes for the third

straight year today as they face the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in

the first-round of the South Region.

The Vols hope this year’s trip to the big dance will be a little kinder

than the previous two.

In 1998, Tennessee made a first-round exit at the hands of Illinois State.

Last season the Vols made it to the second-round only to get slaughtered by

Southwest Missouri State.

Tennessee sports their 24-6 record and a regular season share of the SEC

title. Of course, the Vols will look to run the ball up and down the court

and use their deep bench to contain the Ragin’ Cajuns.

The Vols are coming off an early-round defeat at the hands of South

Carolina in the SEC Tournament. Although the defeat was definitely a

setback, the Vols are looking to make some noise in the tournament.

Louisiana-Lafayette comes into the tournament with a 25-8 record which

includes an impressive 66-60 win over Miami (Fla.).

The Ragin’ Cajuns are the regular season and tournament champs of the Sun

Belt Conference. They won the conference tourney with a jumper from five

feet away with 3.5 seconds on the clock. The shot sealed the 51-50 win over

South Alabama.

Lafayette also likes to run the fast break and they have the depth to do

so. They will play 10 players more than 10 minutes, so they can match up

with the Vols well.

The Cajuns average 72.2 points per game and can shoot the three with some

consistency. This is their first NCAA Tournament appearance since

1994.

Their only drawback is the inside height. The Cajuns have no dominant post

player in a lineup that possesses only two true centers. They have no

player taller that 6-9; however, they do have some weight, which will help

on the defensive side.

“Their post players are strong and can be tough to box out,” Green said.

“Defense is their strong point.”

Lafayette is coached by Jessie Evans. Before coming to Lafayette, Evans was

a long-time assistant to Lute Olsen’s Arizona Wildcats while Green coached

at Oregon. Friday’s game will be a reunion for the former Pac-10

coaches.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have a unique leader in Orlando Butler. The 6-2 junior

guard leads Lafayette in scoring at 13.1 points. He also averages 2.9

boards and shoots 40 percent from three-point range.

So what is so unique about Butler? He comes off the bench. Although he has

the talent to start, Evans likes the energy that Butler brings to the game

when he comes in.

Blane Harmon is another scorer for the Cajuns. Harmon, another 6-2 junior

guard, is averaging 12.8 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds. Harmon is

another three-point threat with his 36 percent accuracy.

The big man for Lafayette is 6-8, 255-pound junior Lonnie Thomas. Thomas

averages 11.1 points and 7.3 rebounds to hold down the middle for the

Cajuns.

“They have three great players that score double figures in Harmon, Butler

and Thomas,” Green said. “They run a simple offense and have great reaction

on the drives.”

As for Lafayette’s supporting cast, forward Reggie Degray averages 8.6

points and 4.9 rebounds. Brett Smith is a true center at 6-9, 250-pounds.

Smith averages 5.5 boards.

Although the Vols have had some trouble with inconsistency, the tournament

has no room for that.

“The kids know where we are and want to be successful,” Green said. “It’s a

mindset approach.”

The mindset approach may have been solved this week in practice. Green

invited UT President Wade Gilley, Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt, and Vol

football coach Phillip Fulmer to speak to the team. The intent was to bring

a better perspective of success to the team.

“Dr. Gilley wanted to speak to the team and we also brought in Pat and

Phillip,” Green said. “Pat and Phillip bring a better perspective of being

successful. They have been there before and know what it takes to be a

champion.”

If the Vols want to put together a run in the tournament, they will have to

play good basketball before anything. If the shots don’t fall, the team

could.

“We’ve got the players and they can get good looks,” Green said. “We just

have to make them.”

Find out if the Vols make their shots today at 12:30 p.m. The game will be

televised on CBS.