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Zakai Zeigler delivers historic SEC performance during Sweet 16 win
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Zakai Zeigler is making the most of his time in March Madness. On Friday, that included a Sweet 16 matchup for Tennessee against Kentucky, a team the Vols had already lost to twice this season.
However, Zeigler and the Vols were not daunted this time around. Tennessee raced out to a major 43-28 lead at halftime and had a crucial answer any time Kentucky threatened after the break before capping off a 78-65 win to reach back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.
Zeigler ended that game as Tennessee’s leading scorer with 18 points as 3 Vols finished in double digits. All 8 players to see the court for Tennessee scored in the big win, but it was the rest of Zeigler’s outing that was noteworthy.
The star point guard and savvy veteran ended the game with a double-double, adding 10 assists and a steal. That makes Zeigler the first SEC basketball player in the history of the NCAA Tournament with a game of at least 18+ points and 10+ assists in a Sweet 16 game or later in the tournament.
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After a season-ending injury in 2023, Zeigler has made the most out of the past 2 postseasons. Last year, he had 18 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds during Tennessee’s Sweet 16 over Creighton before losing in the Elite Eight vs. Purdue.
This time around, Zeigler was similarly sweet vs. Kentucky. Now, he’ll wait to find out if the Vols get Houston or Purdue as the final blockade to reaching the Final Four.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
