Zakai Zeigler and Tennessee came into Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt having already lost to the Commodores on the road. They made sure it didn’t happen again on their home floor as they came back to win 81-76.
The Commodores took a 44-31 lead into the locker room, leaving fans at Thompson-Bolling Arena fearing a repeat of what happened to their Vols team in January. But, according to Zeigler, Rick Barnes had some challenging words for the team at halftime.
“Going into the locker room, Coach Barnes said some things, and I felt like that lit a little fire under us,” Zeigler, who finished with 22 points and 8 assists, told the SEC Network. “[He said] ‘I just feel like some people don’t respect us all the way.’ When we heard that, I feel like we all looked at each other in the locker room. We was like … we got to show everybody to respect us more.”
The Vols eventually took control of the game, outscoring Vandy 50-32 in the second half. They trailed 70-69 with just over 3 minutes left before going on a 7-0 run and taking a 76-70 lead with 88 seconds remaining.
And after a 75-64 loss at Kentucky on Tuesday, the Volunteers are back in the win column, thanks in part to Zeigler.
“I’m the point guard of this team,” he said. “The team goes how I go, call a spade a spade. I just got to play well. It don’t matter if I’m shooting the ball good, it really matters if I’m running the team and just taking care of the ball.”
"We're gonna earn our respect right now."Zakai Zeigler on Tennessee's attitude at halftime vs VanderbiltZeigler's postgame interview on the @SECNetwork⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eacd12HMm1
— Josh Ward (@Josh_Ward) February 15, 2025Zakai Zeigler discusses how Rick Barnes ‘lit a little fire’ under Tennessee during comeback win over Vanderbilt Saturday Down South.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Zakai Zeigler discusses how Rick Barnes ‘lit a little fire’ under Tennessee during comeback win over Vanderbilt )
Also on site :
- Children evacuated from Swindon school after threats of ‘suspicious package’
- Anna Camp's Instagram Story about Jade Whipkey Sparks Dating Buzz
- Patrick Mahomes says ‘cut the cameras’ in emotional locker room scenes as new Kansas City Chiefs doc trailer is released