CBB Recap: Ron Harper Jr. Hits Half Court Buzzer Beater To Upset #1 Purdue 70-68
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and point guard Zakai Zeigler met with the media over Zoom Friday ahead of Saturday’s matchup with UNC-Greensboro.
The Vols dropped their second game of the season on Tuesday, missing 33 three-pointers in an overtime loss to Texas Tech. Barnes discussed the poor offensive performance and the number of three-point shots he felt like was poor shot selection.
While the seventh-year coach made it clear the Vols need to make more outside shots, he also emphasized the need for better interior play and for Tennessee to get to the free throw line. Through eight games, Tennessee is averaging just over 11 free throw attempts per game.
“We like to make more (free throws) than the other team shoots,” Barnes said. “That’s what we’d say would be the goal in the game. If we can make more free throws than the other team takes that would be a good night.”
Barnes also discussed the struggles of Olivier Nkamhoua and Justin Powell and how his coaches can read player’s body languages.
Zeigler discussed what it was like playing in a game with the many missed three-pointers, what he believes his role is on this team and how the game-to-game challenges of college basketball.
The Bronx native also discussed what it was like playing in Madison Square Garden for the first time.
“It was amazing,” Zeigler said. “The last time I was in that gym it was me, my mother and my father was going to watch Stephon Marbury play. The next time, me being able to be in that gym and for them to come watch me play meant a whole lot. It was amazing.”
