This installment of The VolNation Interview takes us to the west coast. Bill Bayno is returning to the college game and attempting to help Loyola Marymount recapture their past glory. Thanks to LMU SID John Shaffer for all of his help. Hope you enjoy.

Bruce Pearl is everywhere. After being at Tennessee for 3 seasons, we all know this about him. We expect it. He is always quick with great stories and clever one-liners that keep us all entertained and begging for more.

Junior College point guard Bobby Maze has verbally committed to play basketball at Tennessee next season. This comes after Ramar Smith and Duke Crews were dismissed from the team just last week.

As I recover from the sensory overload last weekend in Louisville, here are the week’s hoop topics.

That’s right, today’s blog post is about a former Lady Vol basketball player. Why? I’m not sure any Lady Vol aside from Candace Parker has ever been the recipient of as much message board and blog chatter as Brittany Jackson [a quick search of the Volnation forums returned 92 threads].

If you that didn’t get to see the Jordan Brand Classic a couple of weeks ago, here are some of the highlights of Tennessee class of 2008 signee Scotty Hopson.

With visions of trifectas and mint juleps dancing in my head, here are the basketball topics holding my interest this week.

It was announced yesterday the the basketball Vols will play in the 2008 Old Spice Classic on Thanksgiving weekend. Teams participating include Georgetown, Gonzaga, Maryland, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Siena, Tennessee and Wichita State.

As I am busy cleansing my system ahead of next weekend’s celebration of debauchery, otherwise known as the Kentucky Derby, here are the hoop happenings that have my attention.

I don’t believe it comes as a huge surprise to anyone but the VolNation can breathe a bit easier as Tyler Smith has officially announced that he will return to Tennessee for his junior season.