Each season, Tennessee’s senior point guard has pushed his team further, and now the Vols are just one step away from making history with their first Final Four appearance.
Among the many fans in attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday night was Tennessee legend Peyton Manning, who watched his alma mater with keen interest. But instead of a football showdown, he witnessed a point guard performance worthy of admiration—even if it came on the basketball court rather than the gridiron.
Tennessee’s floor general, Zakai Zeigler, took command from the opening tip, running the offense with precision, dictating the pace, and playing relentless defense. His dazzling display of passing, scoring, and intensity led the Volunteers to a convincing 78-65 win.
“He’s elite on both ends of the floor,” said senior teammate Jahmai Mashack. “I don’t know what more he could do to prove he’s the best point guard in the country.”
Tennessee entered the matchup with a score to settle after dropping both regular-season meetings to Kentucky. The Vols believed they hadn’t shown their best against their rival, and the frustration of those defeats fueled their preparation. Ahead of the game, Zeigler and Mashack gathered the team and made one thing clear: They weren’t going to let it happen again.
“We wanted to set the tone and show them what we’re about,” Zeigler said. “No matter what happened before, we were going to play Tennessee basketball on both ends of the floor, and I think we did that tonight.”
Just five minutes in, Zeigler buried a corner three, turning to the Kentucky section with a knowing smirk that seemed to say, “Not this time.” Minutes later, he delivered a perfect lob to Felix Okpara for a thunderous dunk and then set up Koby Brea for a smooth layup, extending Tennessee’s early lead to 15. He controlled the game with ease, doing whatever he wanted on the court.
“When we have a leader playing like that, it’s tough to lose,” forward Igor Milicic Jr. said.
Although Kentucky adjusted in the second half to limit Zeigler’s scoring, he simply shifted gears, using his playmaking to keep the Wildcats at bay. He tallied six assists after halftime, ensuring Tennessee remained in control. Even as the pro-Kentucky crowd roared with every rally attempt, the Vols had an answer each time, with Zeigler pulling the strings.
“There are plenty of great point guards,” Mashack noted. “But the way he runs the game, the way he defends, fights through screens, and controls the offense—it’s just on another level.”
One defining moment came with just over 10 minutes left. Kentucky had trimmed the lead to 12 when Chaz Lanier attacked the rim but missed his shot. Okpara was there for the putback, and as Kentucky tried to push the pace the other way, Lanier tipped the outlet pass. The ball landed in Zeigler’s hands, and without hesitation, he drained a three-pointer, pushing the lead back to 17 and silencing the Kentucky faithful.
“That was the dagger,” Milicic said.
Zeigler’s final stat line: 18 points, 10 assists, and just two turnovers—one of which came when the game was already decided. His performance moved Tennessee a step closer to an unprecedented Final Four appearance, a milestone that has eluded the program.
With Zeigler at the helm, Tennessee has made steady progress: a second-round exit in his freshman year, a Sweet 16 berth as a sophomore, and a heartbreaking Elite Eight loss to Purdue last season. Now, they have another shot at making history on Sunday. Regardless of the outcome, Zeigler’s leadership and poise have solidified his status as one of the best point guards in the nation.
“He’s the best point guard Tennessee has ever had,” said assistant coach Rod Clark.
