Zakai Zeigler out for Tennessee basketball vs Florida with knee injury

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Zakai Zeigler will not play in Tennessee basketball’s top-10 matchup against Florida on Saturday.

The Vols guard is out because of a right knee injury, which he suffered against Kentucky on Tuesday and hampered him in practice through the rest of the week. He did not practice Thursday and was limited Friday.

Zeigler is averaging 12.3 points and 7.4 assists this season as the No. 8 Vols (17-4, 4-4 SEC) play the No. 6 Gators (18-2, 5-2) on Saturday (noon ET, ESPN) at Food City Center.

Forward Igor Milicic Jr. is available to play after he was probable on Friday’s SEC injury report. He is dealing with flu-like symptoms and missed Friday’s practice.

Will Zakai Zeigler play against Florida?

Zeigler is out because of the injury he suffered with 2:17 to play in the first half of Tennessee’s 78-73 loss to No. 12 Kentucky at Food City Center. He drove to the hoop and appeared to hyperextend his right knee. He hopped up and headed immediately for the Tennessee bench, hobbling off the court and down the tunnel.

He returned to play all 20 second-half minutes.

Vols coach Rick Barnes indicated Tuesday that Zeigler’s knee was sound. He added Friday he is “not one bit” worried about Zeigler’s injury and expected him to be ready for the Gators.

PREDICTION: Tennessee basketball vs Florida prediction: Rick Barnes vs Todd Golden in top-10 rematch

“My gut feeling is − knowing him − that he will be ready to play,” Barnes said.

Zakai Zeigler dealing with right knee injury for Tennessee

Zeigler had started 51 straight games for Tennessee prior to missing Saturday’s contest. It also is the time Tennessee will have a different starting lineup this season.

The Long Island native had not missed a game in his career outside of his ACL injury late in the 2022-23 season.

Senior guard Jordan Gainey is the likely starting guard with Zeigler out.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/zakai-zeigler-tennessee-basketball-vs-144808135.html

Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Publish date : 2025-02-01 14:48:00

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