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Tennessee updates status of Zakai Zeigler, Igor Milicic Jr. for Missouri game on injury report

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•about 12 hours•

GrantRamey

Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Basketball | Andrew Ferguson, Tennessee Athletics
Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Basketball | Andrew Ferguson, Tennessee Athletics

No. 4 Tennessee will have Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic Jr. available against No. 15 Missouri on Wednesday night for the 7 p.m. Eastern Time start (TV: SEC Network) at Food City Center. Neither player was listed on the SEC Injury Report Tuesday night.

Trent Burns was the only player listed as out for Missouri.

Both Zeigler and Milicic missed the 64-44 win over No. 6 Florida on Saturday in Knoxville. Zeigler was sidelined by the right knee injury he suffered late in the first half of the 78-73 loss to Kentucky last Tuesday and Milicic was out due to an illness.

Zeigler was downgraded from questionable Friday night to out Saturday morning. Milicic, who was listed as probable on the initial Florida injury report, was made available early Saturday, but was ruled out during pregame warmups.

Tennessee had just seven scholarship players available vs. Florida

Head coach Rick Barnes said during The Vol Network’s ‘Vol Calls’ on Monday night that both players had returned to practice Monday afternoon.

“Igor practiced today,” Barnes said. “‘Z’, a little bit in and out, but I do think he’ll be ready.”

Assistant coach Gregg Polinsky added Tuesday that both players were on track to return for Tennessee (18-4, 5-4 SEC) against Missouri (17-4, 6-2).

“They both practiced yesterday in somewhat limited amounts,” Polinksy said before Tuesday’s practice at Food City Center. “But as always our performance (staff) and Chad (Newman) have done a heck of a job, and those guys (the players) getting themselves back.”

Zeigler was injured with 2:17 left in the first half against Kentucky, but retuned to the game to start the second half and played all 20 minutes after halftime. He didn’t practice Thursday or Friday, though.

“I was a little banged up and it was bothering me,” Zeigler said Sunday night during an appearance on The Locker Room, “had some number stuff that was going on with the strength coach that was a little off. And I was in some pain, but I’ll be back next game.” 

Zakai Zeigler on Sunday: ‘I’m good. I’ll be back next game’

Zeigler and Milicic combine to average 22.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game. Their absence on Saturday left Tennessee with just seven scholarship players available against Florida.

The Vols started the season with 11 scholarship players out of a possible 13. Since then they have lost sophomore wing Cameron Carr to a midseason transfer to Baylor and sophomore forward JP Estrella, who had season-ending foot surgery in late November.

Zeigler announced his own return for the Missouri game during his TV appearance Sunday night.

“I’m good,” Zeigler said on The Locker Room. “I’ll be back next game. Simple as that.”

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