Tennessee Basketball Optimistic About Zakai Zeigler, Igor Milicic Injury Status Ahead Of Missouri

Tennessee Basketball
Photo via Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee basketball is optimistic that they’ll get a pair of players back in the fold ahead of Wednesday night’s matchup against No. 15 Missouri in Knoxville.

10th-year head coach Rick Barnes said that Igor Milicic Jr. was a full participant during Monday’s practice while Zakai Zeigler was “in-and-out” during Vol Calls on Monday night. Meeting with the media on Tuesday, assistant coach Gregg Polinsky echoed Barnes’ sentiment.

“I get a sense (that they’ll be back),” Polinsky said. “They both practiced yesterday in somewhat limited amounts. As always, our performance (staff) and Chad (Newman) have done a heck of a job. And those guys getting themselves back.”

Tennessee is holding practice open to the media at the time of publication and both Zeigler and Milicic have been full participants in practice as the Vols prepare for another top 15 matchup.

On the UT Locker Room Show on Sunday night, Zeigler stated that “he’ll be back” against Missouri on Wednesday night.

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Milicic missed Tennessee’s matchup against Florida on Saturday due to illness. The Vols listed the senior forward as probable on their Friday night availability report and were optimistic that he’d be able to go against the Gators. But the illness kept him from playing or sitting on the bench during the game.

Zeigler suffered a knee injury late in the first half of Tennessee’s loss against Kentucky last Tuesday night. He returned and played the entirety of the second half but then missed the Vols’ win over No. 5 Florida on Saturday.

The senior point guard suffered the knee injury 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.

Zeigler went through an MRI that revealed no structural damager and set the stage for him to return to the court without a long break.

Tipoff between Tennessee and Missouri is at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday in Knoxville. The SEC Network is broadcasting the game.

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