KNOXVILLE — Many television fans of the late 1970s would need no time reciting the most popular phrase from “The Incredible Hulk.”
As the central character, Dr. David Banner, was on the verge of transforming from actors Bill Bixby to Lou Ferrigno, he would warn: “Don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
In Tennessee’s 81-76 comeback win over Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon inside the Food City Center, senior point guard Zakai Zeigler became angry for the Volunteers, and his coach loved it.
“He’s best when he plays angry,” Rick Barnes said after his No. 5 Vols improved to 21-5 overall and to 8-5 in Southeastern Conference contests. “That’s when he’s at his best, because he’s always been a fighter his whole life. When guys get comfortable thinking every game is going to be the same, it’s not.
“I liked what I saw in his eyes.”
The 5-foot-9, 171-pound Zeigler didn’t morph into the 6-5, 290-pound Ferrigno against the Commodores, but he was a very different player in the second half.
When the Commodores led 44-31 at halftime, Zeigler was scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting with four assists and a turnover, while Vanderbilt was having its way offensively, shooting 54.8% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range.
Zeigler finished with a team-high 22 points, with his 7-of-9 shooting in the second half including a 3-of-4 clip from behind the arc. He would add four more assists while stiffening defensively, as the Commodores shot just 35.7% in the final 20 minutes.
“My mom always told me the same thing,” Zeigler said. “She told me my whole life: ‘Get mad. Get mad.’ She would say stuff to me during the game if I wasn’t playing well. I would look in the crowd and see her face, and then I knew what time it was.
“I feel like my whole life I’ve been like that. When I’m playing angry, I might have a smile on my face, but I’m mad.”
Zeigler scored or assisted on 32 of Tennessee’s 50 second-half points, matching the 32 second-half points that Vanderbilt compiled as a team. In the final seven minutes, he went 3-of-3 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
The obvious challenge is somehow keeping Zeigler constantly in Ferrigno mode during the early stages of this stretch run that continues at No. 8 Texas A&M next Saturday (noon Eastern on ESPN).
“I just thought he got back to playing with a real chip on his shoulder, and I thought his competitive spirit really showed up,” Barnes said. “In the first half they were driving by him, and that’s not something that normally happens. The guy we’ve always known is who he was in the second half. People game plan for him, but he was determined and strong with the ball.”
Said Zeigler: “When I’m playing angry, I just feel like I’m playing more aggressive.”
Massive comeback
Tennessee trailed by 16 points late in the first half, making Saturday’s victory the first for the Vols when trailing by 15-plus points since their 81-73 triumph at Kentucky on March 3, 2020.
The 2020 Vols would lose their regular-season finale against visiting Auburn four days later, and then the outbreak of the coronavirus led to the cancellation of the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
Odds and ends
Vanderbilt’s 44 first-half points are the most allowed this season by the Vols. … Tennessee increased its series lead to 132-77 over the Commodores, which includes a 29-9 mark inside the Food City Center. … The Vols are 14-2 in their past 16 series meetings with Vanderbilt. … Tennessee senior guard Chaz Lanier scored 21 points Saturday and also had a season-high eight rebounds. … The Vols begin this week at No. 5 in the NET rankings and KenPom rankings behind Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.