Texas coach Rodney Terry on facing Zakai Zeigler again: 'We're happy to see him graduate'

Friday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament will likely be the last time Texas coach Rodney Terry has to look out on the court and see Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler running the show for the Vols.

And he’s just fine with that. 

“We went against him last year, going against Zeigler every year he’s been in college,” Terry said Thursday, after Texas beat Texas A&M in two overtimes. “We’re happy to see him graduate.”

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Texas, Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET

No. 4 Tennessee (25-6) and No. 13 Texas (19-14) are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time start on ESPN Friday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals to face either No. 1 Auburn or No. 8 Ole Miss.

The Vols ended the Longhorns’ season last March in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, winning 62-58 in Charlotte during a run the Elite Eight.

Zeigler only scored six points in the win, but had seven assists, four rebounds and three steals while playing all 40 minutes.

He scored 16 points and had eight assists in Tennessee’s 74-70 win in Austin earlier this season. He had 22 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes in a home win over Texas in 2023.

“He’s tough,” Terry said. “He’s (SEC) Defensive Player of the Year two times in a row, he’s First Team All-League player. He really kind of just set the table for all of his teammates. He’s a willing passer, great defender. 

“He’s just a guy that’s won a lot of games for Coach Barnes. You throw in a big-time shooter or two that they have over there, some physical posts, you have all the ingredients of a team that’s had a great year in conference play.”

Tennessee earned a double-bye into the SEC Tournament quarterfinal as a top-four finisher in the league’s regular-season standings. Texas, meanwhile, will be playing its third game in three days, after beating Vanderbilt on Wednesday and A&M on Thursday. 

“Quick turnaround,” Terry said. “We have to have a physical mindset tomorrow. We’re going to play a great backcourt, great front court, physical team. We’re going to have to be ready to play at a high level.”

Tennessee has won three straight games against Texas

Friday’s game will be Tennessee’s fifth against Texas over the last four seasons, with the Vols winning the last three.

Tennessee has won three straight against Texas, dating back to an 82-71 win in Knoxville in January 2023. The Vols lost 52-51 in Austin in January 2022, when Chris Beard was the Texas head coach and Terry was his associate head coach.

Terry, a former longtime Rick Barnes assistant coach, was asked Thursday if facing Tennessee even requires a scouting report after so many meetings in recent seasons.

“I mean, we played four years in a row against one another,” Terry said. “We understand what their identity is about. I think they understand what our identity is about.

“It’s going to get down to guys making plays,” Terry added, “value taking care of the basketball. At the end of the day, guys making shots and playing with a physical mindset.”

It’s going to be a great game. They’re a great team. They’re a great program. 

“They’ve had a lot of success in this league. We’re excited about the opportunity and the challenge of competing against that level of team tomorrow afternoon.”