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Zakai Zeigler being 'who he is' changed the game for Tennessee in the win over Illinois

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•12/10/23•

GrantRamey

Zakai Zeigler
(Hannah Mattix/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK) Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) follows the ball landing on Illinois guard/forward Marcus Domask (3) during an NCAA college basketball game between Tennessee and Illinois at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.

Zakai Zeigler saddled up and rode Marcus Domask across the half-court stripe. One across, as the Illinois guard attempted to dribble between his legs, Zeigler lunged and poked. The ball bounced backward, away from both players.

From there, it was a scrap. Both players dove toward the ball on the ground. Zeigler won, sat up with it and in one motion scooped it toward Josiah-Jordan James, who was running in transition toward the Tennessee rim and finished Zeigler’s forced turnover with a two-hand dunk.

A capacity crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena came unglued. No. 17 Tennessee, after trailing by five points early in the second half, was in the middle of a 10-0 run that changed the game and helped the Vols take down No. 20 Illinois 86-79 on Saturday afternoon. 

“We’ve watched him over the last couple weeks get back to (himself),” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said during his postgame press conference, “but that’s who he is. That’s what endeared him into our fans here.”

Zeigler on Saturday scored a season-high 11 points, played a season-high 29 minutes and had four assists to go with his all-important, game-changing steal.  

He’s spent the last couple weeks finally looking more like his old self, finally putting behind him the torn ACL that ended his sophomore season back in February. 

It was never more evident than when he was diving on the floor, battling for the loose ball.

“That’s in his DNA,” Barnes said. “You wish every guy had that about them. We got some guys that are gonna fight like that, but that’s who he is.”

Up Next: No. 17 Tennessee vs. Georgia Southern, Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Over Tennessee’s last three games — the 100-92 loss at North Carolina on November 29 and the back-to-back home wins over George Mason and Illinois this week — Zeigler has scored 26 points 7-for-19 shooting, including 5-for-14 at the 3-point line, and has 17 assists, three steals and just three turnovers in 84 minutes.  

Barnes didn’t send a message to Zeigler as much as he reminded him of who he’s always been.

“He realizes that he’s always been doubted for a long time,” he said. “That’s what I’ve talked to him about. You know what, you’ve gotta be who you are. You know, you’ve gotta get back down the floor. 

“You gotta start being a problem to people on the defensive end. You’ve gotta let people not enjoy coming in the game. You gotta get people not wanting you to guard the ball in the back court.”

It’s just so happened to play out exactly that way against Illinois. 

Zeigler’s steal with 15:39 left in the second half happened with Tennessee down one, with James scoring the go-ahead points and giving the Vols a lead they wouldn’t give up.

But Saturday was just the start. 

“He’s getting closer,” Barnes said. “He’s still not totally there, but, his floor game (against Illinois) was great. I thought his leadership was terrific and his communication from the coaching standpoint to the court was really as good as it’s ever been.”

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