It's been sixteen years since the Vols have made it to the SEC Championship game. Since that time the Vols have found tournament wins difficult to come by.

Getting to the championship game isn't the only problem; it's winning their opening round game that has proven to be bothersome for Tennessee as well.

They have been eliminated eight times in their opening game since 1992. 

Expectations haven't always been high for the Vols. Since league expansion in 1992 they have been the No. 6 seed six times. They have a record of 2-6 as the sixth seed. 

Their struggles continue even when they are the No. 1 seed.

In 1999 and 2000 the Vols were the top seed and failed to win their first opening games and those struggles continued last year when they lost to South Carolina as a number one seed.

"We lost to the NIT Champion last year. South Carolina at the end of the year was playing as well as any one and eventually lost in the SEC Championship game," Pearl said.

Pearl knows that it isn't easy to turn around a program that has only seven conference tournament wins since 1992. The Vols are also the only team not to advance pass the quarterfinals since that time. 

"It is going to take time. It takes more then just two years to change mindsets," Pearl said. 

This year there are positives and negatives going into the tournament.

The Vols are playing better basketball this year down the stretch winning seven of their last eight, where as last years team lost three of their last eight.  

"We are fresher, deeper, and we haven't won a championship yet, so all those things are good mindsets to have going into the tournament," Pearl said.

The negative is their first round opponent.

The LSU Tigers have been playing better lately and have a lot of motivation entering the tournament knowing that they have to win the tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament.

"Our opening opponent has been getting ready for the SEC tournament for two or three weeks. The only way LSU gets into the NCAA tournament is to win the SEC. This is a Final Four team that lost only two players from last year. That is a very tough opening opponent," Pearl said. 

The Vols quest to change their struggles begins Thursday night. 

The Vols do have history on their side when it comes to playing LSU in the tournament.

 They are 1-0 against the No. 6 seed from the West and that one win came against LSU in 1998. They also have an overall record of 6-2 against the Tigers in tournament play.