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WATCH: Tennessee’s Rick Barnes, Texas A&M’s Buzz Williams React to Vols’ Win in Knoxville

By Ric Butler
- Feb 24, 2024

No. 5 Tennessee defeated Texas A&M by a score of 86-51 on Saturday night in Knoxville to give the Vols their 21st win of the season and Rick Barnes his 800th career coaching victory.

While the Vols and the Aggies did trade a few shots in the first few minutes of the game, Tennessee soon took over. The Vols had a 10-point lead going into the halftime break and only extended the lead throughout the final 20 minutes. Tennessee’s defense was stifling on Saturday, not just effective in its own right but making Texas A&M play an offensive set that was not on the gameplan.

Tennessee’s three-headed monster of Jonas Aidoo, Dalton Knecht, and Zakai Zeigler was once again the difference in the game for the Vols.

Aidoo finished the game with a double-double (18 points, 14 rebounds), Knecht was the leading scorer in the game with 24 points, and Zeigler, well, Zeigler nearly had Tennessee’s second triple-double in program history. Zeigler finished the game with nine points, nine rebounds, and 14 assists in 36 minutes on the court.

After the game, Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams spoke to the media in Knoxville.

TAMU HC Buzz Williams on Zakai Zeigler: I think he's so underrated. Elite on ball defender. Incredibly fast, with or without the ball. Their secondary transition action, he's the engine.

— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 25, 2024

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes also spoke to the media, followed by Tennessee guards Zakai Zeigler and Dalton Knecht.

Tennessee HC Rick Barnes on his 800th career win: Like our program motto, it's not about me. God has truly blessed me with players, coaches, administration, and certainly, a family that has been with me every step of the way… I'm just thankful, blessed.

— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 25, 2024