This is a new regular feature this season with former Vol Dane Bradshaw joining us each week to dissect what's happening with the basketball Vols. A member of Tennessee's All-Century team, Bradshaw brings both a fan's perspective to his take as well as specific insight that comes from being a recent and highly successful member of the program.

The most recent thing in everyone's mind is the loss at Kentucky, which wasn't altogether surprising. But the last week also included a business-like win at home against Auburn. That was really the first time Tennessee 'handled' an opponent at home in a while. What did you think of what you saw in the two games since we last talked and the direction things are headed?

The Kentucky game is obviously a rivalry game, but for this type of season, that Auburn game was a critical game for Tennessee to get at home as far as where they're projected to finish for the year. You want to compete for the top-spot, but realistically, this year, we're competing to be in the middle of the pack, or the top half of the league, and to do that you've got to win those games at home like they did against Auburn.

Those kind of games help stabilize you some and show that you've got you're program headed in the right direction vs. the Auburn's, the LSU's and teams like that. That may not be a memorable win for some, but that's one that I know I had circled on the schedule as a win they had to get. Whereas I think most people would admit that heading into Rupp, that looked like a loss under the best of circumstances.


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