BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee basketball point guard Zakai Zeigler is getting closer to being 100% healthy after tearing his ACL on the final day of February in the Vols’ 75-57 win over Arkansas.
The 5-foot-9 point guard is doing more-and-more at Tennessee’s practices but still isn’t at full speed with the season opener less than three weeks away.
“We’re doing some things in half court with Zakai, but he hasn’t gone up and down with us any yet,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. “And he’s doing well. We’re just going to err on being cautious with him.”
Zeigler has been eager to do more-and-more all summer and into the fall as he continues to get closer to full go. The junior point guard doesn’t feel like he’s at 100% just yet but the finish line is in sight.
“I am feeling really well,” Zeigler said. “The performance coaches, they are doing their best with me — Chad and G, JD. They all have helped me so much. I feel like I am almost at 100%. I am not there yet. I feel like I am right there, right at the finish line.”
The Preseason Second Team All-SEC guard was steadily improving as a pass first point guard in his sophomore season posting five double-doubles in 16 conference games. Zeigler averaged 10.7 points, 5.4 assists and two steals per game and set the tone for Tennessee basketball with his defensive presence and relentless energy on the defensive side of the ball.
Tennessee faces a challenging preseason test when it travels to East Lansing to face No. 4 Michigan State in a charity exhibition game on Oct. 29. The Vols are undecided on whether Zeigler will participate in the top 10 preseason matchup.
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“And he understands that. As much as he’s champing at the bit to get going, he knows that we’re going to look at it from a long haul situation. And he’ll be good with it because he trusts his teammates and he know they’ve worked hard. And when he gets back, he knows that he can help us. Obviously he changes the floor every time he’s out there, but we’re going to take care of him physically first.”
Between Zeigler missing the end of last season and the entire offseason while recovering from the knee injury, a number of Tennessee guards including Jordan Gainey, Freddie Dilione and Jahmai Mashack have gotten extended work running the Vols’ offense.
“I do think that’s been the emphasis where we want guys, where we’ve worked on different guys getting the ball going with it and get us going with our offense,” Barnes said. “And I think it certainly, with Zakai being out, Freddie (Dilione) and Jordan Ganey, those guys have had to play that. Jahmai (Mashack), Santi (Vescovi has) done it. Obviously we’ve got a lot of guys that have done it. The young guys are the ones that really, Jordan and Freddie are the ones that are having to really learn the system and understand that when they are at the point, it’s their job to get it started.”
Expectations are high for Tennessee basketball this season. The Vols are in the top 10 of the preseason AP and USA Today Coaches Poll. The league’s media picked Tennessee to win the SEC regular season championship this season.
Tennessee officially opens up their 2023-24 season against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 6 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
