'We need you on the floor': Tennessee needs Zakai Zeigler to stop fouling
Zakai Zeigler picked up his third foul with 15 minutes, 27 seconds left Saturday afternoon in No. 11 Tennessee’s game against Kentucky at Rupp Arena.
He stayed on the floor despite the foul trouble, Kentucky drove straight at him and, only 14 seconds later, he picked up his fourth foul. He was taken out of the game and sat for the next eight minutes.
Zeigler finished the 66-54 Tennessee loss in Lexington with eight points on 2-for-10 shooting, including 2-for-9 from the 3-point line, in 23 minutes, nearly seven minutes below his season average. He had three assists, a steal and three turnovers to go with the four fouls.
“With Z, it’s being smart,” Tennessee assistant coach Rod Clark said before Monday’s practice at Thompson-Boling Arena, “and watching film. It’s being critical of himself.”
Zeigler being on the floor is critical to Tennessee’s success. But the foul trouble has been all too troubling for the sophomore point guard.
No. 11 Tennessee (20-7, 9-5 SEC) will look to rebound at No. 25 Texas A&M (20-7, 12-2) on Tuesday (7 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) at Reed Arena in College Station.
Zakai Zeigler has committed three or more fouls in 13 of the first 27 games this season
Zeigler fouled out with 2:49 left in the 86-85 loss to Missouri on February 11 at Thompson-Boling Arena. He had four fouls in the loss at Arizona and four fouls in both losses to Kentucky.
He’s been called for three or more fouls in 13 of Tennessee’s 27 games so far this season, committing a team-high 64 fouls to date.
“I had a conversation with him last week,” Clark said, “where I told him man, I think you have to mature from the standpoint of when you foul, don’t think it’s not you. Because at the end of the day, we have a different referee crew every game. And if they keep calling the same fouls, you’re probably fouling.
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“Accept it and understand. Go in the film room, sit back and have the mentality of I have to get better at this.”
Tennessee is at its best when Zeigler is at his best.
In eight games in January, Zeigler averaged 12.0 points, 8.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals, leading the Vols to a 7-1 record during the month. He averaged 2.25 fouls per game.
Zeigler didn’t commit a foul while scoring 22 points and finishing with 10 assists in the win over Texas on January 28. He didn’t commit a foul at LSU on January 21, either. He had four fouls in the home loss to Kentucky on January 14, three fouls against South Carolina, Vanderbilt and at Mississippi State. He had just two fouls in the home win over Mississippi State.
Up Next: Tennessee at Texas A&M, Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Zeigler leads Tennessee in assists (145), is second in minutes (29.3), 3-pointers made (46) and scoring (10.8). He’s shooting 36.5 percent from the floor and 30.9 percent from the 3-point line.
In the 20 wins this season, Zeigler is averaging 2.0 fouls per game. In losses, he’s averaging 3.4
“We need him on the floor,” Clark said.
He was told as much on Saturday after the loss at Kentucky. The Vols need him on the floor. Time will tell if the message got across.
“His teammates told him in the locker room after the game,” Clark said, “like sometimes, man, you put us in a hole when you make those tough plays. We get that you’re just playing hard, but we need you on the floor.”
