The Tennessee Volunteers were surprisingly effective without senior point guard Zakai Zeigler during their 64-44 victory over Florida on Feb. 1.
They’re very happy, however, to have him back.
Since missing that one game with the knee injury that he suffered during the Jan. 28 loss to Kentucky, the 5-foot-9, 171-pounder has averaged 19 points and 8.5 assists in triumphs over Missouri and Oklahoma. Zeigler is a combined 11-of-17 from the floor since his return, including a stunning 7-of-8 clip from 3-point range.
“Zakai has been really good these last couple of games to where he has really managed the game well for us,” Vols coach Rick Barnes said in a news conference after Saturday’s 70-52 rout of the Sooners. “He’s looking for guys when they get going in certain areas. Our first half today was pretty special.”
The No. 4 Vols are now 20-4 overall and 7-4 in Southeastern Conference play following their first trip to Norman.
After helping Tennessee score 57 second-half points in Wednesday’s 85-81 outlasting of No. 15 Missouri, Zeigler directed the show as the Vols tallied 45 first-half points Saturday. The offensive uptick has been welcomed by the Vols, who continue to be stout defensively, having now held Auburn, Florida, Oklahoma and Mississippi State to season-low point totals.
“It’s been amazing out on that court,” Zeigler told ESPN after Saturday’s win. “I know exactly where guys are going to be. We talk a lot, and I’ll ask what they want me to do, and it just works. I just tell them to be ready and that when I get to the paint, I’ll be looking for them.
“We just work really well together and know each other really well.”
Zeigler, who also had four rebounds and four steals against the Sooners, was asked by ESPN how this season’s Vols are different from the past three years.
“I feel like it’s the versatility of the team,” Zeigler said. “We can go small ball. We can have a big lineup. We can have a fast lineup. We can slow the ball down and throw it inside. We can play in a variety of ways.”
Zeigler’s nine assists at Oklahoma give him 645 for his career, which has him tied for seventh in SEC history with Kenny Higgs, who played at LSU from 1974-78.
A quick turn
Saturday may have been the quickest celebration Tennessee has all season, as the Vols will now face Kentucky (16-7, 5-5) in Lexington on Tuesday night (7 on ESPN).
Tennessee obviously will be looking to atone for the recent 78-73 setback.
“We know what they did to us in the Food City Center,” Barnes said on the Vol Network. “We need to enjoy this one on the ride back and get ready for Tuesday.”
Vols senior guard Chaz Lanier sensed the page would be turning even before the flight home.
“We’re definitely on to the next one now,” Lanier said. “Kentucky is going to be a good game and a physical game. They came and got us at the house, so we owe them one.
“Everyone is going to be excited and riled up for this game, so we’re going to come out ready to play.”
Odds and ends
Tennessee now has 31 seasons of at least 20 wins. … In their past two games, the Vols have blocked 16 shots while not having any blocked. … Tennessee’s 69.2% shooting accuracy during the first half in Norman was its best half this season in an SEC contest. … The Vols are No. 4 behind Auburn, Duke and Houston in both the NET rankings and KenPom rankings.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.