Tennessee might just be the best 10-11 team in the nation.

Fact Check:
Pretty close to true

Only Nova at 10-12 is ranked higher in the Kenpom top 100

BREAKING : UT source confirms that John Palermo will be next defensive line coach for Vols.

Cuonzo Martin said he couldn't help but notice the scores of blue-clad Kentucky fans in Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday.

"Yeah, it concerns you,'' Tennessee's men's basketball coach, who had a handful of Kentucky fans sitting behind his team's bench, said Monday at media day. "We see 21,000 there, but we'd like to see the 21,000-plus in orange, especially when you say you're going up against a rival.''

The Vols' 65-62 loss to the No. 2-ranked Wildcats represented UT's first sellout crowd of the season, with 21,678 packed into the arena.

"If the upper bowl is not packed (with orange), it's one thing,'' Martin said. "But you have the lower bowl ...

"There was not a lot of red in that lower bowl when Indiana came to the gym at Purdue.''

Martin played at Purdue 1991-95 and coached there as an assistant 2000-08.

Question For RTT Regulars:

I've been trolling VN since the DC thing started and most of it seems to be unsubstantiated garbage, but I am aware that some over there are considered reliable. Does anybody know who or have an opinion on this?

The following players are no longer with Tennessee:

LB Robert Nelson, DT Arthur Jeffery, & LB Martaze Jackson.

Massive defensive tackle Daniel McCullers (6-6, 380) has committed to Tennessee, per @AustinPriceless.

BREAKING: Big news on Tennessee's defensive coordinator's search: ($) Linky

BREAKING: According to a source, North Carolina's Sam Pittman is in line to replace Harry Hiestand as Vols offensive line coach.

Can we replace the awful football standings and schedule with the basketball standings and schedule on the front page?

Also, if someone will please tell me who those guys were in Tennessee Orange on Saturday morning, I would appreciate it. They looked like some Hawaiian import - a team that played Duke close and went to double OT with Memphis in Maui - rather than what had been on the court in December.

If the Vols play like they did against Florida, then middle of the pack in the SEC will be the conversation rather than arguing about whether we are worst in the SEC.

Welcome, Mr. Stokes.

Tennessee: Sources within UT athletics confirm that Tennessee is "finalizing contract negotiations with Randy Shannon". Plan is to announce on Monday. Sources close to Shannon tell us "security for Randy" is the primary item still being negotiated.