Rick Barnes Updates Zakai Zeigler’s Knee Injury Following Tennessee Win Over Florida

Zakai Zeigler celebrates a Tennessee score during a game against Florida at Food City Center. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.

Tennessee basketball was without both Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic in its 64-44 victory over No. 5 Florida on Saturday afternoon.

Milicic missed the game with flu like symptoms so his absence will not be long term. But Zakai Zeigler, the immediate future is more uncertain for Zeigler, who missed the game with a knee injury that he suffered against Kentucky on Tuesday night.

While Zeigler was unable to go against Florida, Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes provided a relatively positive update on Zeigler following the game.

“He did get an MRI last night,” Barnes said. “It showed no structural damage.”

Zeigler suffered the knee injury in the first half of Tennessee’s loss against Kentucky, driving hard to the basket and falling to the ground while drawing contact and a foul late. He quickly popped up and speedily limped straight past the Tennessee bench and all the way up the tunnel towards the Vols’ locker room.

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The senior point guard came back and played the entirety of the second half against Kentucky but didn’t quite look full speed. Zeigler did not participate in Thursday’s practice and was a very limited participant in Friday’s practice open to the media. He only did individual work and did not participate in any five-on-five work.

Both Barnes and Tennessee players complimented Zeigler after the game for the way he was locked in both during shoot around and pregame warmups.

“I know that if Zakai could have gone, he would have,” Barnes said.

The Vols found a way to get a much needed win against Florida despite being down a pair of starters. Tennessee held Florida 26 points below its previous season low while finding just enough offensive production.

Jordan Gainey and Chaz Lanier led the way offensively but all nearly every Tennessee player contributed on that end. Gainey scored 16 points while dishing out five assists and Lanier poured in a game-high 19 points.

The result was Tennessee ending its two-game losing streak and avenging its 30-point loss in Gainesville last month with a 20-point victory.

“I am going to coach who is out here,” Barnes said. “Whoever is out here, we are going to try and get ready to play.

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