KNOXVILLE, Tenn — Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler did not play in Tennessee's final exhibition game against Lenoir-Rhyne on Tuesday.
The guard is still working to get to 100 percent from his torn ACL injury from last season.
Before the game, head coach Rick Barnes asked Zeigler to sit beside him on the bench for the game. He wanted to break down the game together and relay one another's perspective as the action unfolded.
"I said let's talk," Barnes said after the game. "We'll talk through the game. I will let you see what's going on with what I'm thinking and what you're thinking."
Barnes would ask Zeigler during specific instances during the game if what the players on the floor was the correct thing to do. The team really wanted to push the ball up the court. They didn't. So Barnes asked Zeigler for his thoughts.
"I said, 'Right now, do you think Jahmai (Mashack) knows to advance the ball?' He said, 'I don't know.' I said, 'I'm saying he thinks those guys aren't open are they open?' He says, 'They're open,'" Barnes recalled about a moment in the first half.
Barnes called a timeout and asked Mashack why didn't they advance the ball. Mashack said his teammates weren't open. He then asked Zeigler if they were and Zeigler said they were.
Zeigler was like a coach on the sideline. Barnes asked him to explain to players why they were being taken out of the game for not performing up to the Tennessee standard. Zeigler on his own was seen coaching up some of the guys.
Barnes said it is killing Zeigler he can't play and his guard wants to get in the game desperately. However, he felt Tuesday night was a good way to help Zeigler see the floor better.
