Vols will be No. 1, but have a tough road

Tennessee defeated No 1 Memphis Saturday night, 66-62.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Rock said it all: 1.

The gigantic boulder on which Tennessee students have been painting “happy birthday” messages and praise for Volunteer victories since the ’60s bore only that number painted in orange against a black backdrop Sunday morning.

It’s the ranking the No. 2 Volunteers likely will ascend today on the heels of their 66-62 victory over top-ranked Memphis Saturday night, their first victory over a No. 1 opponent since 1969.

The Rocky Top faithful are ready to celebrate.

A few hundred fans chanting, “It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol!” greeted the Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville when they arrived at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

But the Vols (25-2) have little time to share in the excitement. They have four games left to wrap up the Southeastern Conference schedule, starting with a trip Tuesday night to No. 20 Vanderbilt and another sold-out crowd.

Sophomore guard Ramar Smith said the only way to top being No. 1 would be to win the school’s first national championship in men’s basketball.

“Of course, we know we’re going to get everybody’s best shot,” he said. “We’ve got to take it and deliver and step up. That’s really what it’s all about right now.”

Teammate Tyler Smith, who scored back-to-back buckets to put the Vols ahead to stay in Memphis, relishes being No. 1 but knows work remains.

“We’ve got a big game coming up Tuesday with Vanderbilt. We’re back in conference play, and that’s where we’ve got to take care of [business],” he said.

Tennessee snapped Memphis’ run at perfection, handing the Tigers their first loss in 27 games this season and stopping the nation’s longest home winning streak at 47 games.