Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler named the SEC Player of the Week
Tennessee senior point guard Zakai Zeigler was named the SEC Player of the Week on Monday, after scoring 17 points and setting a new career high with 15 assists in the win over Middle Tennessee State last week. He has 27 points, 24 assists and 14 rebounds over his last two games, against Western Carolina and MTSU.
Zeigler’s 15 assists led Tennessee to the 82-64 win over Middle Tennessee State at Food City Center on Monday. He scored his 17 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field and added four rebounds and a steal.
“I told him that I’d rather him have 19 (assists) and no turnovers,” head coach Rick Barnes said after the game, after Zeigler finished with four turnovers. “But he’s so competitive. He’s just so competitive. He did a good job.”
Up Next: Tennessee vs. Norfolk State, Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET, SEC Network+
In the 84-36 win over Western Carolina on December 17, Zeigler was one assist shy of a triple-double, which would’ve been just the second in Tennessee program history. He had 10 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes.
Zeigler is the SEC Player of the Week despite shooting 2-for-13 from the 3-point line and 6-for-21 from the field over the last two games.
“Pressing a little bit offensively,” Barnes said after the Western Carolina game, “but he’ll be able to work that out.”
Tyler Smith is the only Tennessee player with a triple-double, scoring 12 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists in an 87-69 win over UNC Asheville in December 2008.
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Zakai Zeigler leads SEC, is No. 5 nationally with 8.2 assists per game
Through 12 games Zeigler is averaging 11.8 points, 8.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 32.9 minutes per game.
Zeigler leads the SEC in assists and is No. 5 nationally. He has recorded nine or more assists six games, eight or more in eight games and six or more in nine games.
Zeigler scored a season-high 19 points against Austin Peay on November 17 and matched a season-high with 38 minutes against MTSU.
“We’ve seen him do it a lot in practice,” Tennessee center Felix Okpara said after Zeigler flirted with a triple-double against Western Carolina. “It ain’t nothing new for Zakai. I don’t think he’s very focused on scoring. I think he’s more focused on playing defense and being a great point guard for the team.”
“He’s the best point guard in the nation,” Tennessee transfer wing Darlinstone Dubar added. “He’s one of our leaders. Regardless if he shoots bad, he’s going to impact the game. That’s what he did today.”
