Like I said: I can’t get over the win. Nothing’s more enjoyable than seeing Calipari suffer like the rat he is; much like watching Belichick suffer, I think we all find some kind of enjoyment in it. Here’s some of the talk after the game. Enjoy.

I’m still trying to get myself together after last night’s drinking fest, so my motor and typing skills aren’t exactly on par right now.

The Vols upset the Tigers 66-62, short of my prediction, but a win’s a win. Chris Lofton did next to nothing the entire game, but JuJuan Smith, Tyler Smith, JP Prince and Wayne Chism picked up the pace and carried Tennessee to a win. You can see highlights of the game here, and I advise you to watch the hand shake between Calipari and Pearl at the end; it seemed almost more awkward than watching Belichick and Mangini try and pretend they have respect for one another at the end of a game.

I’m going to keep posting throughout the day, though the quality may suffer. I’m still really, really hurting.

It’s been a while since I was this pumped about a basketball game. It’s the regular season, and when No. 1 and No. 2 face off, it doesn’t really mean much; they’ve both stamped their name into the tournament, and the outcome of this game shouldn’t much hinder any future success.

But is No. 1 vs. No. 2, and when one of those teams is your team, it’s extra fun. Most the country is picking Memphis: They’re the favorite, they’re at home, and they’ve got a bunch of talent. I’m going to stick with what I said earlier, and say that UT pulls this thing off by two. I don’t see Memphis playing tough defense, and I see UT getting too many open looks from beyond the arch.

My final score: UT 87, Memphis 85

Enjoy the game. I’ll be thoroughly drunk by halftime.

I said it earlier: I’ll be watching the UT/Memphis game. I went to UT, I love UT, I’ll be rooting for UT. I wouldn’t say I’m completely fanatical — Georgia Tech is my first love, and I’m fanatical about them — but I’m a very big fan.

According to reports, I’m wondering if I’m even a fan.

Tickets are going for as much as $10,000, topping what some people paid for Super Bowl seats. John Calipari was on ESPN, and he said Bruce Pearl even called him to ask for a few.

“He was begging me for tickets,” Calipari said Tuesday. “And I told him no.”

Calipari was joking, of course, but he never passes a chance to take a swipe at the Volunteers. On Saturday, the No. 1 Tigers face No. 2 Tennessee in Memphis, the first time since 1998 the nation’s top two teams from the same state play each other.

And everyone wants to come.

Calipari said Pearl was asking for Tennessee alum and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, among others. Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson granted the request, Calipari said, but he just wanted to make Pearl sweat.

To be fair, this is Memphis, which isn’t exactly the capital of the U.S. for hot sports team. Now that I’ve been fair, if these fans are spending that much on those tickets, they’re clearly a bit crazy.

I haven’t kept up with college basketball too much this season. That’s generally how things work from year to year; football is on, I don’t watch much. Football ends, I’m glued to the television, studying each team so I can make sure my bracket’s solid in March.

This week won’t require the studying aspect for me to watch. As a former UT student, this week will be plenty fun for me, watching the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation square off in a game that could ultimately decide who’s the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.

CBS Sportsline has a poll on who will win: 49 percent of the fans are saying the Tigers, while the other 51 percent are taking the Vols. I’m taking the Vols, but it may be out of heart more than thought. I know CDR is a beast for Memphis, as well as Derrick Rose, but I just don’t see the Tigers slowing down UT’s three-point attack of Chris Lofton and JuJuan Smith, and every other player on Tennessee that can shoot the lights out.

It’s early, and there’s a lot of week left, but I’m calling UT by 2.

It’s the Tennessee vs. Kentucky game tonight, which is one I’ll be looking forward to. As an avid Georgia Tech and UT fan, I’ve kind of only had fun rooting for one of them this year. Chris Lofton, Vols three point expert, has been struggling this year, but always seems to shine when he plays Big Blue. My prediction: UT by 14, and Lofton puts up 33. Cheers, people, enjoy the night.

Wake Forest 61, Georgia Tech 75: Were you really expecting me to headline another college game over my Yellow Jackets? This was win number 18 for Georgia Tech, who has games left against UNC and Boston College at home, and Virginia on the road. GT will need to beat Boston College and play UNC close, I think, to make sure they get a bid. Nineteen wins in the ACC is generally enough, but with teams like Michigan State — who thought to be out, according to most of the bracketology stuff I read — beating Wisconsin, things get a little trickier. Oh yeah. Javaris Crittenton, a freshman I’m quite fond of, had 22 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.

South Carolina 49, Florida 63: It’s never good to have to play Florida after they’ve lost, something the ‘Cocks just found out firsthand. It also doesn’t help South Carolina’s chances when they only score 13 points in a half. Al Hortford scored 20 points, and Joakim Noah didn’t punch anybody. He’s gone after cheerleaders and coaches now, so we’re thinking the next road game, maybe a fan.

NC State 64, UNC 83: The Tar Heels got their revenge from their loss to the Wolfpack earlier in the season. Hansbrough dropped 20 and freshman Brandan Wright led the team with 24. I wasn’t able to watch this game, but I get the feeling that in person Ty Lawson looked a lot better than his five points in the box score would indicate.

Vanderbilt 70, Mississippi State 83: So much for that big win against Florida. It’s usually hard to win games, though, when you allow the other team to shoot 54% from the field.

Penn State 60, Ohio State 68: Jamar Butler was 4-6 beyond the arch, and Greg Oden had a double-double (17 and 14) to help — number one? — Ohio State win its 12th straight game. While that’s impressive, the teams they’ve beaten aren’t (Tennessee was the only tournament team they beat — Michigan State and Purdue, bubble teams, were the other quality wins).

Alabama 66, Tennessee 69: It’s hard to win when your best scorer, and maybe best shooter in the nation, goes 3-15 from beyond the arch, but Tennessee found a way. Chris Lofton played like garbage, but still managed 20 points. JuJuan Smith scored 16 to help the Vols get a much needed win.

Georgia Tech 63, FSU 57: I hate to headline last evening’s games with one of the games that didn’t mean much to anybody who’s not me, but I’m going to anyway. The Yellow Jackets won their fourth straight game, and their first road win since February 2005. Yes, it’s been a while. Javaris Crittenton led the Jackets in scoring — as you probably knew from the not so subtle but very long title — with 29 points, and has flung himself into my exclusive list of Tech Players Whose Asses I’d Slap. Other members of this prestigious group include Chris Bosh, Jarrett Jack, Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott, Will Bynum, Anthony McHenry, The Aussie, I’smail Muhhamad, Matt Harpring, BJ Elder, James Forrest, Malcom Mackey, Brian Oliver, John Barry, Drew Barry, John Salley. . . okay, maybe not exclusive, per se. But extensive, no less.

Texas Tech 77, Texas A&M 75: Texas Tech broke a five game losing streak, and A&M had its five game winning streak snapped when Jarrius Jackson hit a jumper as time expired to help Tech to its second win over the Aggies this year. This win helps Texas Tech out a lot, who was starting to slip off the edge of the NCAA tournament. I feel like a Bob Knight joke should be inserted here, but I’m not near clever enough at the moment.

Virginia Tech 81, UNC 80: That loss Georgia Tech had to VT at home this year is starting to look a little better. Zabian Dowdell is a name you might want to remember, because I have a feeling he’s going to be big in March. The kid is incredibly quick, and led the Hokies to victory with 33 points. Maybe now VT will be taken a little more seriously.

Florida Gulf Coast U 65, Butler 79: I’m not trying to squash the small fish, but c’mon. Butler is the 12th ranked team in the nation? They just beat Florida Gulf Coast U, who, outside of their student body, no one even knew existed.

Kentucky 85, Tennessee 89: Chris Lofton always dreamed of playing for Kentucky, and is now giving Tubby Smith nightmares for not recruiting him. In his three games against the Wildcats, Lofton has averaged 23.6 ppg. I’m starting to think Tubby wouldn’t say “you’re too small” if he still wanted to play there. . .

That hideous picture right there, that’s Bruce Pearl, head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team. He decided it would be a good idea to go shirtless to the game to show the lady’s team his support. I personally believe in older, heavier-set men showing their support in other ways, but I guess his chest painted isn’t much more blinding than the orange blazer I’ve come accustomed to seeing.

The Lady Vols lost to Duke, 74-70, and how can you blame them: How’s a team of young, horny girls supposed to focus on basketball when a guy with Bruce Pearl’s rugged physique is shirtless? I’m hoping this loss cancels out any chance of Charlie Weis pulling a stunt like this at a basketball game.

Football starts at 4:30 p.m., but until then, there’s some pretty good basketball on. Tennessee is tied with Ohio State right now (CBS). Chris Lofton has already sank two three-pointers, and leads the Vols with 8 points. The Man Child, 10 minutes through the game, already has 10 points. Here’s some other games you can view today:

-Now Playing: West Virginia @ Marquette (ESPN)
-Kansas @ Iowa State (ESPN 2:00)
-UNC @ VT (ABC 3:30)

And Georgetown plays Pitt at 9:00 p.m., but unless you’re a serious fan of one of these teams, I don’t think you’ll be watching it over the Eagles and the Saints, which starts at 8:00 p.m.

Hope you enjoy the games today. I’ll be posting throughout, if I’m not wicked drunk.