Tennessee Volunteers’ guard Zakai Ziegler was injured on Tuesday night against the Kentucky Wildcats, putting his availability in question ahead of a top-10 matchup against the Florida Gators on Saturday afternoon. His final status for the game was just released, putting a dent in the Volunteers’ chances against the Florida Gators.
Latest Zakai Zeigler Injury Update Sends Him to the Bench
The Tennessee Volunteers will be without their star point guard Zakai Zeigler on Saturday afternoon against the No. 5 Florida Gators.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Ziegler was unable to practice on Thursday due to a knee injury that he suffered against the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday night.
Ziegler is the engine behind the No. 8 Volunteers offense, penetrating the defense and distributing to others. His 7.4 assists per game rank fifth in the country.
The point guard is also the second-leading scorer for Tennessee, averaging 12.3 points per game. He helps stretch the defense by nailing 1.7 three-pointers a game.
His defensive prowess will also be missed — in 2024, he was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. The Gators’ three-headed monster of guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard will have an easier time with the absence of Zeigler.
He was named to the SEC First-Team last season and was on the Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 Watch List this season.
His presence will certainly be missed by a Volunteers squad that is already among the slowest-paced teams in the conference. Fewer possessions per game mean more importance for each time Zeigler creates shots for others and himself.
Due to his injury, heightened responsibility will be placed on guard Chaz Lanier, who averages 17.8 points per game but will likely need more than that to help the Volunteers compete against the Gators.
Backup point guard Jordan Gainey, who’s come off the bench lately, has shown the ability to swing a game with his scoring. Against the Illinois Fighting Illini in mid-December, he scored 23 points, leading the Volunteers to a two-point victory.
READ MORE: Top 10 College Basketball Rivalries
Tennessee will be playing at home, but losing their star point guard will make it tough to beat a loaded Gators team.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program across football, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and more!
