Looking back at the UT men's basketball 2007-2008 season, Volunteer fans had a lot to cheer about.

For the first time in school history, the men's team was ranked number one in the country, and also won the Southeastern Conference outright for the first time since 1967.

However, that's not all UT fans were cheering about this year as they welcomed Tyler Smith, a new addition to the team who helped lead them in points, rebounds and assists.

Smith, a sophomore, transferred from the University of Iowa last fall back to his home state of Tennessee so that he could be with his father after he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

 "When I heard the news about my father, basketball was the last thing on my mind. I wasn't worried a bit about basketball, but my father had sat down with Coach (Pearl) and worked everything out for me to come here," Smith said. "That's just what kind of a man he was. I was blessed to be able to spend time with both my father, as well as play the sport I love."

Tyler's father, Billy, died in October.

Tyler was one of the top 50 high school recruits in the nation and graduated from Hargrave Military Academy in Pulaski, Tenn.

He has lived up to all expectation by averaging 13.6 points per game, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season.

Tyler credits his chances of going in the NBA draft to Coach Pearl, and all the things he has done for the team, as well as him personally.

"My father would be very pleased with the work Coach had done, and the way he has been there for me and looked after me as the sort of "father figure" my dad had asked him to be. And of course I would love to play in the NBA one day, but for next year, I'll be wearing orange," Smith said.

Smith said Coach Pearl has not only made a difference in his life and basketball career, but in the whole UT basketball program.

"I think we can accredit a lot of our success to our players buying into Coach Pearl's system and following it completely," Smith said.

Team manager and graduate assistant Mark Fogel agrees.

"His amazing coaching style and public relations skills have touched everyone associated with the program, especially the players. Pearl has really stepped up and been there for Tyler this year," Fogel said.

Pearl recently received the Adolph Rupp Award as the top college basketball coach of the year, an honor that Smith said he more than deserves.

 "I'm especially proud of coach for winning the Rupp Award for Coach of the year. Even if he hadn't have won, after everything he's done for me and the team, he would've been number one in my book," Smith said.