There will be a team in Thompson-Boling Arena tonight without an SEC road win, only three conference victories and problems with youth and defense.

But that team won’t be wearing orange.

When Tennessee (11-8, 3-5 SEC) and Arkansas (11-9, 3-6) faceoff tonight at 8, it would be easy to confuse one team for another.

“(Arkansas coach) Stan (Heath) is like I am – trying to search for that road victory and build some consistency there,” UT coach Buzz Peterson said at his Monday press conference.

“They’re a young ball club, but right now, it’s more about us trying to improve and getting our defense better.”

The Razorbacks could hum the same tune.

The Volunteers are giving up a league-high 71.2 points-per-game. Arkansas is not far behind, sitting in 10th, giving up 67.2 ppg.

Problems on the defensive end have forced the Vols’ third-year coach to change some of his practice routines.

“I don’t know if we will do any offense at all,” Peterson said. “Most of today and tomorrow, and maybe the rest of the year, there will be a lot of attention on the defensive end at practice.”

Peterson has also changed the team’s group film sessions on Mondays and Thursdays to individual sessions with particular players.

“There are some that can handle that in your face attitude a little bit,” he said, “but there are some that are lacking confidence right now and I am going to make sure that they aren’t going to lose anymore (confidence).”

Peterson’s main focus has been on increasing the Vols’ physical play. He said lack of toughness on defense has lead to productive nights for opponents’ wings.

Georgia Tech proved that Saturday, as Marvin Lewis and B.J. Elder combined for 44 points.

“If you lined up our guys as a football team … I’d probably take two guys as defensive players,” Peterson said. “That’d be (Stanley) Asumnu and (Jemere) Hendrix. The rest would probably be offense.

“That’s kind of the mind set of this team.”

Arkansas probably wouldn’t mind a game of pigskin. One of the ‘Backs starting forwards is Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones.

“Jones is the one that really amazes me as a two-sport athlete in the way he plays on the field and on the court,” Peterson said. “He’s a very intelligent basketball player.”

But Jones isn’t Arkansas’ biggest threat. Fellow forward and leading scorer Jonathon Modica averages nearly 17 ppg.

“He’s (Modica) had a good year,” Peterson said. “As long as we keep a physical presence inside we should slow him down.”

That should be easier with the re-introduction of Hendrix to the Vols’ starting lineup.

Hendrix returned as a starter for Saturday’s game against the Yellow Jackets, replacing freshman Major Wingate.

“We need him in there banging around,” Peterson said. “He gives us good energy.”

Heath hopes his young team, which starts three freshmen, can find a way to slow down that energy.

“They’re going to be playing at home, so they’ll be fired up and ready to play,” Heath said. “We have to go into Tennessee and find a way to win.

“The team that’s most ready to play will come out on top.”

Peterson sure hopes so.

“Making the most out of the second half of the conference season will kind of be our theme,” he said. “There are a lot of teams in there with just three wins.

“Hopefully we can get a run going here and improve on the defensive end.”