There is a bright side to the limited playing time redshirt freshman guard Freddie Dilione V is receiving this season at Tennessee.
At least it’s a reprieve from facing Volunteers junior starter Zakai Zeigler multiple times a week.
“Guarding a guy like that in practice every day has been beneficial for me,” Dilione said Friday during a news conference. “Getting reps like that in practice will help me every game.”
When the No. 5 Vols resume Southeastern Conference play Saturday at Vanderbilt (6 p.m. Eastern on SEC Network), it will be their first performance since last Saturday’s resounding 91-71 thumping of Alabama inside the Food City Center. Tennessee improved to 14-4 overall and to 4-1 in league contests with that win before having the midweek off, with the Commodores getting some down time since last weekend as well.
“It really was unusual,” Vols coach Rick Barnes said. “We tried to stay in rhythm but yet tried to get rest both mentally and physically for our guys. It was different, but from here on out, there are no more open weeks.