KNOXVILLE — Wayne Chism’s secret is out.

Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl has said several times this season that his free-spirited sophomore had some of the best footwork of any big man in America.

Now we know why.

It turns out Chism has already been to the Big Dance. Multiple times every week, the Volunteers’ 6-foot-9 forward stands out in several ways during ballroom dancing class.

“The swing is a very good dance,” Chism said. “I like that one, and the fox trot. We’re doing the Tennessee Waltz, too.”

The Associated Press-- Tennessee forward Wayne Chism, left, is known for his footwork near the basket, and it happens that he’s an enthusiastic participant in a ballroom dancing class at UT.

Chism showed UT play-by-play announcer Bob Kesling some of his moves Monday afternoon, but he typically prefers to break it down ballroom-style with coeds.

“We’ve got 50 girls in there. It’s a big factor,” Chism said. “We switch partners every day, so we’ve got a new girl we dance with every day. A lot of them are happy to dance with me.

“A lot of them always tell me they go back and tell their sisters and brothers, ‘I danced with Wayne in class today.’”

What about those who have boyfriends, Wayne?

“I think some of them get mad,” he said. “Always, when my partner leaves, I see two or three girls walking my way, and then whoever gets there first gets to dance.”

On the basketball court, the surprisingly nimble Chism rarely has problems getting to the rim. Like for many of his teammates, though, finishing has been a problem.

That problem could be magnified in the postseason play, when Pearl said officials typically “let the players play.” UT’s third-year coach has challenged his players all week to fight for loose balls in the paint and finish baskets with contact. It was a major emphasis in Tuesday’s full-contact, full-speed practice.

“You are not going to be bailed out by the whistle,” Pearl said. “You better get it. Every rebound is going to be a man’s rebound.

“If you’re asking me if that’s to our advantage at this point, I don’t know. But they’ll be prepared for what it is going to be.”

Pearl’s words were not so discreetly pointed at Chism and fellow big men Duke Crews and Tyler Smith, as well as penetrators Ramar Smith and J.P. Prince.

When one reporter asked Pearl how concerned he was with backup point guard Jordan Howell’s shooting slump, Pearl said he was just as worried about Ramar Smith’s lack of lane production.

“What Jordan does is score from the perimeter, and that’s been inconsistent, and what Ramar does is score inside, and that’s been inconsistent,” Pearl said. “We need better play from that position to be able to continue to advance in postseason play.”

Ramar’s scoring average has declined for weeks. He hit double figures in seven of the Vols’ first nine games but just four times in the 21 games since — and just once in the past 12. One of the SEC’s strongest guards at a stout 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Ramar still seemingly bulls his way to the paint with ease, but many of his point-blank shots aren’t finding the net. Despite attempting just two 3-pointers, he’s 18-for-54 from the field in UT’s past eight games.

“It’s a confidence thing,” Pearl said. “He can’t understand how he’s (lipping) them off. I think a lot of the thing is that he’s such a physical guard, and I think because he’s gone through the league, I think officials know that he takes it to contact a lot.

“I think he’ll fare better in the NCAA tournament, because there’s a lot of contact when he takes it to the basket. They’re used to Ramar taking it to the basket hard.”

Ramar has attempted 19 free throws in 206 minutes during his eight-game funk.

Pearl said other physical, penetrating SEC guards — such as Mississippi State’s Jamont Gordon and Florida’s Nick Calathes — “are better at bringing attention to the contact and getting themselves to the line.

“I’m not calling (Gordon and Calathes) actors,” Pearl said. “It’s just a smart play.”

Ramar has shot 105 free throws this season, a significantly smaller number than Gordon (172) and Calathes (184). However, those two average slightly fewer free throws per minute than Ramar.

Regardless, if Pearl is correct, fouls on every team will decrease in postseason play.

Pearl referenced Saturday’s Duke-North Carolina game, when Tar Heels star Tyler Hansbrough didn’t attempt one free throw.

“Does the contact like that prevent us from getting the rebounds?” Pearl asked. “Does the size bother Tyler Smith around the basket, or Ramar taking the ball to the hole, or J.P. finishing the hoop and the harm?

“I don’t know.”

Loosely called games might benefit the Vols, who play physical, hand-check-heavy defense and shoot 65.3 percent — 288th out of 341 Division I teams — from the free-throw line.