KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — When Tennessee plays Saint Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, it will be brother against brother.
Zakai Zeigler is a guard for the Vols and his half-brother, Armoni, is a guard for the Peacocks. On Selection Sunday, it came up on the screen, two-seed Tennessee vs. 15-seed Saint Peter’s.
What it meant for Zakai and Armoni Zeigler was a chance to play each other in the NCAA Tournament.
“As soon as I saw that name pop up I Facetimed him I called him, and started talking a little bit of trash.,” Zajau Zeigler said. “I can’t say everything I said but it is a blessing.”
Before Zakai called, Armoni had his own thoughts about it.
“When I first saw the matchup I knew it was going to be a dog fight between me and my brother,” he said. “So it’s going to be amazing, it’s going to be amazing to play him”
Zakai told Armoni they were going to beat them. Armoni thinks otherwise. When the two step on the court they might as well not be related.
“He’s not my brother, he’s not my brother no more out there,” Armoni said. “After the game, he can be my brother. Right now, no.”
The two have played pickup. Armoni says Zakai leads the series 6-5. Zakai said that is just not the case.
“He has never beaten me in his life in a game of one-on-one or five-on-five he has never beaten me ever,” Zakai said with a smile. “I’m up, by a lot.”
Competition aside, both are proud of what each other has accomplished. This moment against each other will be special.
“You know every kid wishes they could play with their family members, especially on this kind of stage,” Zakai said. “I’m just glad. It’s a blessing we get to play each other.”
They both are glad to have family that means so much to them.
“I mean everything,” Armoni said. “That’s my brother, it’s my heart, it’s my world.”