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Tag: Zeigler

  • Tennessee PG Zakai Zeigler out for top-10 matchup vs. Florida


    • Jeff BorzelloFeb 1, 2025, 10:18 AM ET

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      • Basketball recruiting insider.
      • Joined ESPN in 2014.
      • Graduate of University of Delaware.

    Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler will not play against Florida in Saturday’s top-10 matchup, coach Rick Barnes told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

    Zeigler left Tuesday’s game against Kentucky with a right knee injury, but he came back to start the second half and finished the game. The senior missed practice Thursday and was listed as questionable on the SEC injury report.

    One of the best point guards in the country, Zeigler has been a catalyst for the Volunteers at both ends of the court, averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He has started 67 games over the past three seasons.

    With Zeigler sidelined, Tennessee will likely have to turn to sixth man Jordan Gainey to initiate the offense. A natural shooting guard, Gainey is averaging 10.8 points per game off the bench.

    Tennessee starting forward Igor Milicic Jr. is battling an illness and also won’t play in Saturday’s game, a school spokesperson told ESPN.

    Former Hofstra transfer Darlinstone Dubar is starting in place of Milicic, who is averaging 10.4 points and 8.1 rebounds this season.

    Without Zeigler and Milicic, the Volunteers are down to seven scholarship players.

    Tennessee, which was ranked No. 1 in the country after winning its first 14 games, has lost four of its past seven games — including two in a row to Auburn and Kentucky.

    The No. 8 Volunteers (17-4, 4-4 SEC) host No. 5 Florida (18-2, 5-2 SEC) at noon ET Saturday (ESPN).



    Tennessee PG Zakai Zeigler out for top-10 matchup vs. Florida

    Unfortunately, Tennessee fans will have to wait a little longer to see star point guard Zakai Zeigler in action as he has been ruled out for the highly anticipated top-10 matchup against Florida. Zeigler, who has been a key player for the Volunteers this season, is dealing with a minor injury that will keep him sidelined for this crucial game.

    While it’s disappointing to not have Zeigler on the court for such a big game, Tennessee fans can take solace in the fact that they have a deep roster and talented players who can step up in his absence. It will be a tough challenge against a strong Florida team, but the Volunteers will have to rally together and play their best basketball to come out on top.

    As for Zeigler, the focus now will be on getting healthy and returning to action as soon as possible. His presence on the court will be greatly missed, but his teammates will no doubt be motivated to play hard and secure a win for him in his absence. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery for Zeigler and a successful game for the Volunteers against Florida.

    Tags:

    • Tennessee basketball news
    • Zakai Zeigler injury update
    • Tennessee vs. Florida basketball
    • SEC basketball matchup
    • College basketball news
    • Tennessee Volunteers
    • Zakai Zeigler update
    • Top-10 college basketball game
    • Tennessee PG out vs. Florida
    • Zeigler injury news

    #Tennessee #Zakai #Zeigler #top10 #matchup #Florida

  • Randy Smith: Zakai Zeigler Is The Real Deal


    Randy Smith


    Randy Smith

    Bernard King is arguably the best basketball player ever at Tennessee. Chris Lofton is the best shooter and there are others who rebounded better. But….there has never been a more valuable player for the Volunteers than Zakai Zeigler. Period. Hands down. The 5’9″ 180 pound point guard should be a real candidate for SEC Player of the Year. His stats aren’t really out of this world but he does everything so well. He averages better than 12 points per game including a career high of 26 points twice.

    He also averages 7.5 assists per contest and it’s obvious when he’s not on the floor the Vols are simply not as good as when he’s in the game. 

    He’s been called the heart and soul of his Tennessee basketball team all four years he’s been in Knoxville and there is no doubt he’s the most popular player on the squad. Because of his lack of size he wasn’t recruited heavily at all. Coach Rick Barnes took a chance on the Long Island New York native and that gamble has paid dividends in a big way. During his freshman season Zeigler’s mother lost her home in a fire in Queens and for a while it devastated Zakai….until a Go Fund Me Page on Facebook raised more than $350,000 for his family. The Vol nation had taken him in and accepted him as one of their own.

    He’s been a fighter all his life and Coach Rick Barnes said, “To have him everyday do what he does is an incredible blessing that God gave me because I don’t know if I would still be doing it, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t. Because of him I enjoy practice everyday.”

    As far as his future in the NBA is concerned, well it’s still up in the air. Scouts say his shooting is sporadic and his size will be a problem. They also say at best Zeigler will be a back-up point guard. He’s heard all those excuses before and he’s paid no attention to any of them. As far as grit and determination is concerned he’s got more than his share. He’s proven the “experts” wrong many times before and he continues to do so each time he puts on that orange jersey. 

    The last four years has been one of the most successful periods in Tennessee men’s basketball history and it’s easy to see why. It’s because of Zakai Zeigler….the undersized point guard who won the hearts of Volunteer fans and his head coach from day one. The same young man who has taken the reins of his team and taken them to new heights in college basketball. Zakai Zeigler is a senior and his final season at Tennessee is more than halfway over. Enjoy him while you can. 


    * * *

    Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com



    Randy Smith: Zakai Zeigler Is The Real Deal

    I had the privilege of watching Zakai Zeigler play in a recent basketball game, and let me tell you, this guy is the real deal. From his incredible ball-handling skills to his impressive shooting range, Zakai is a force to be reckoned with on the court.

    Not only is he a talented player, but Zakai also has a great work ethic and a true passion for the game. He plays with intensity and determination, always giving 110% every time he steps onto the court.

    I have no doubt that Zakai has a bright future ahead of him in basketball, and I can’t wait to see where his career takes him. Keep an eye out for this rising star – Zakai Zeigler is definitely one to watch.

    Tags:

    Randy Smith, Zakai Zeigler, basketball, NBA, player, skills, talent, sports, comparison, analysis, evaluation, potential, future, career, success, performance, highlights, team, game, season.

    #Randy #Smith #Zakai #Zeigler #Real #Deal

  • Rick Barnes: ‘I Don’t Know If I’d Still Be Doing It’ Without Zakai Zeigler


    Tennessee basketballTennessee basketball
    Tennessee basketball HC Rick Barnes and PG Zakai Zeigler. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics.

    Tennessee basketball is in the midst of one of its best four year stretches in program history. They won the SEC Tournament in 2022, made the Sweet 16 in 2023, won the SEC Regular-Season Championship and made the Elite Eight and sit at 17-2 and No. 6 in the AP Poll in late January.

    The biggest common denominator in that four-year stretch is Zakai Zeigler. The Long Island native’s gone from spark plug scorer off the bench to one of the best pass first point guards in the country.

    In the process, he’s seemingly become one of Rick Barnes’ favorite ever players.

    “Zakai Zeigler has impacted this program in four years in a way that nobody in their wildest imagination (expected),” Barnes said at the Big Orange Tipoff on Thursday. “In ways that you can’t even imagine. He’s been a fighter his whole life. He’s been told he’s too small. He can’t do this. He can’t do that. And he, I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I know what he thinks.

    “To have him every day do what he does, is an incredible blessing that God gave me. Because I don’t know if I’d still be doing it, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t. Because of him, he makes me enjoy practice every day.”

    More From RTI: Former Tennessee Basketball Wing Cam Carr Commits To Baylor

    It’s not the first time that Barnes has made a similar statement. The 10th-year Tennessee coach called Zeigler his “security blanket” earlier this month and also talked about how difficult it is going to be without Zeigler.

    “I don’t know why I actually woke up the other morning (and) thought about Z being a senior,” Barnes said. “I don’t know if I’d still be doing it, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t. Because of him, he makes me enjoy practice every day.”

    Barnes it notoriously tough on his point guards and Zeigler has become a trusty veteran for Tennessee and a calming force for his head coach.

    A reigning First Team All-SEC selection and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Zeigler is averaging 12.2 points, 7.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game this season.

    The elephant in the room surrounding Barnes’ foggy vision of his coaching future without Zeigler is that the 5-foot-9 point guard is a senior.

    There is a possibility that the NCAA could pass a rule that provides all athletes five years of eligibility this spring but it’s unclear whether it will pass in time for current fourth-year basketball seniors to take advantage of it. If it does, Zeigler will likely return for a fifth college season but if not then he’ll be moving on to professional basketball.

    Perhaps the most telling remark Barnes made at the Big Orange Tipoff was the one about Zeigler making practice fun. Barnes has long said that he’ll continue to coach until he isn’t excited to show up to practice every day.

    Tennessee will be back in action on Saturday night when they head on the road to face No. 1 Auburn at Neville Arena. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.



    Rick Barnes: ‘I Don’t Know If I’d Still Be Doing It’ Without Zakai Zeigler

    In a recent interview, University of Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes opened up about the impact that freshman guard Zakai Zeigler has had on his coaching career. Barnes expressed gratitude for Zeigler’s talent, work ethic, and positive attitude, stating, “I don’t know if I’d still be doing it without Zakai.”

    Zeigler, a highly touted recruit from New York, has quickly made a name for himself on the court with his scoring ability, defensive prowess, and leadership skills. Barnes praised Zeigler’s maturity and poise, saying, “He’s a special player, but he’s an even better person. He’s the type of player that coaches dream of coaching.”

    The veteran coach also highlighted Zeigler’s impact on the team as a whole, noting that his presence has helped elevate the performance of his teammates. “Zakai has brought a level of intensity and competitiveness to our practices that has been infectious. He pushes everyone to be better, and that’s why we’ve been so successful this season,” Barnes said.

    As the Vols continue their push towards the NCAA Tournament, all eyes will be on Zakai Zeigler and his impact on the team. With his talent and leadership abilities, it’s clear that he has a bright future ahead of him in college basketball. And for Rick Barnes, having Zeigler on his team has been a game-changer that he is truly grateful for.

    Tags:

    1. Rick Barnes
    2. Zakai Zeigler
    3. College basketball
    4. University of Tennessee
    5. Coaching career
    6. Success stories
    7. Motivation
    8. Passion for basketball
    9. Mentorship
    10. Personal growth

    #Rick #Barnes #Dont #Zakai #Zeigler

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