The trail from Atlanta, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee winds up and down a series of mountain roads soaring past Chattanooga and eventually atop Lookout Mountain. As you approach Chattanooga you see a bevy of signage extolling travelers to “See Rock City.” Part of that visit will almost certainly include a purchase of a small but beautifully constructed bird feeder painted red and black which could be any one of several team’s colors (since they change virtually every year).

One year my wife Marcia and I took the sign’s advice and saw Rock City. I was scared to death. I hate heights unless I am in a plane, but she is fearless and thought it was a great trip upward along a path that barely was wide enough for one person, let alone two. As our caravan approached Knoxville, our team leader, Gene Tormohlen, admired the lack of construction which seemed in days long gone to have cordoned off many of the roads leading into this metropolis. He should know the territory having played at the University of Tennessee in the 1950s where he still retains that school’s rebound mark for either a single game or season. His nickname then, as it is now, is “Bumper,” crowned for his innate ability to “bump” people away from the boards. He is gone but not forgotten from the school and still incites memories of glory days of yore as older folk stop by our courtside seats to say hello.

The attraction tonight is Memphis versus Tennessee in a battle of home state behemoths. As the evening and the first half unfolded, this was an ill-timed venture. The game played at 9 p.m. was a tribute to the oversaturation of college basketball on television. Frankly, there are too many games and too many nights, but at least we don’t have any more of those senseless 10 p.m. starts in the West.

Tennessee is a football state but through the years hoops have come alive in Knoxville. In Memphis John Calipari has provided new life to a sport that through the years almost surpassed the grid game in the city that continues to keep alive the spirit of Elvis Presley. If you have never been to Graceland, make it a point to visit Memphis some day. It may be a bit tacky but it is one of America’s seven memorable wonders.

Calipari is one of our favorite people, though most people either love him or hate him. But how can you hate our friend John? He is what he is – a crafty magician whose teams always play hard. And if they leave the nest early to try for an NBA gig, he gives them his blessing and goes out and recruits another bumper crop. Call him on the phone and he is quick to offer help in any way possible – a throwback to his days at UMASS and his pro days. This year’s Memphis edition is still one of youth. It will take time and patience, both of which Calipari has plenty of.

Tennessee is under the fine hand of second-year coach Bruce Pearl who quickly rebuilt the program in his first season here last year. He immediately brought a new brand of up-tempo basketball to the city and won a tremendous following during his first summer spent traveling around the state.

I first met Pearl on one of his stops en route to the Volunteer state. Last year he told coaches at the Portsmouth Invitational that when he coached at Division II Southern Indiana in Evansville that I was one of a few guys who would always take his calls. I explained to Bruce that I take everyone’s calls. Why not show a little respect for coaches from any classification? You never know when you might need a favor. And you may actually help them in some way.

His command of the city showed this night as nearly 19,800 fans came out in rainy weather to watch the two rivals square off. Memphis came in at 6-1 while Tennessee’s record thus far was 6-2, close enough to warrant a toss-up.

It was anything but.

The Tigers spent the first half missing 41 of their 50 shots, maybe utilizing the theory that if they took 100 shots some of them would strike home. The Vols led by 20 most of the game before Memphis – big and strong but inexperienced – made an expected second half run. But after cutting the margin to 12, the Vols junior guard Chris Lofton broke loose for one of his patented spurts to put the game out of reach. Lofton was sensational, scoring 34-points (12-18 FG, 6-11 3-PT FG, 4-4 FT) as Tennessee eventually won 76-58.

This epic means different strokes for different folks. As I have explained in the past, I am often suspicious of early games. Upsets abound and the early upset winners most often fall by the wayside, or so it seems. The Vols will have to get a max effort from their top eight and especially a couple of frosh to make it through the rugged SEC schedule where just about every team is stronger than last year.

Don’t sell Bruce Pearl short. They are so excited in Orangeland that there are luxury suites for basketball. And don’t sell Memphis short either. The Tigers will wind up atop Conference USA and have too much talent not to cop the trophy.