'I think about it all the time': Zakai Zeigler updates his timeline for return from torn ACL

Zakai Zeigler gets chills just thinking about it. That moment he finally gets to make his return for Tennessee basketball, finally putting behind him so many months of work coming back from the torn ACL that left him crumpled on the court back in February.

“I can’t wait for it,” Zeigler told Volquest on Tuesday at Thompson-Boling Arena. “I think about it all the time.”

With each passing day, it looks a little more real. Ziegler is back on the court during practice with his teammates, still somewhat limited but going through regular basketball activities, seemingly at full speed.

Pumping the brakes is the biggest challenge for Tennessee’s fiery junior point guard.

“That definitely is the hardest part for me,” he said, “to take it slow.” 

He listens to team trainer Chad Newman and strength coach Garrett Medenwald. He listens to his doctors, too. But that doesn’t mean he always agrees. 

Zakai Zeigler: ‘I just want to get back on the court so bad’

“Some days we get into it,” Zeigler said, “but it’s nothing nothing bad. I just want to get back on the court so bad.”

Zeigler suffered the torn ACL early in a home game against Arkansas on February 28. He drove baseline and fell to the court with the non-contact injury. He had surgery in March, after the swelling went down. 

Tennessee officially started preseason practices last week. The Vols play their first exhibition game on October 29 at Michigan State (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Big Ten Network) and open the regular-season schedule on November 6 against Tennessee Tech. 

Head coach Rick Barnes said last week that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Zeigler is back for the start of the season. On Tuesday, though, he said the Vols are still holding him back. 

“He’s doing a little bit right now,” Barnes said during his media day press conference. “Chad and Garrett would probably tell you they think he’s ahead of schedule. He’s done a little bit and started practice each day. If it were up to him, he’d practice the entire time but we won’t let him.”

Zeigler doesn’t have a date in mind. Instead, the decision will come down to feel.

“More so how I’m feeling, how my body is feeling and just what the doctors and Chad and ‘G’ are all just saying,” Zeigler said. “I’m just trusting them through the whole process.”

Up Next: Tennessee at Michigan State, October 29, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

He already trusts the injured knee. All it took was one moment on the floor for Zeigler to turn back up to full speed.

“I felt like I just jumped into it,” he said. “I always told myself like, once somebody blows by me, I’m gonna be back to it because I don’t want anybody to do that.

“I played one-on-one against somebody and they went right by me and I was like, all right, now I gotta trust it. And then from that point on, I’ve been good.”

Zeigler last season was averaging 10.7 points, 5.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game before the injury. It occurred in Tennessee’s final home game of the season, leaving him as a bystander while the Vols made a run to the Sweet Sixteen at Madison Square Garden. 

Now he just wants to get back on the floor and get back to helping his team.

“I feel like I’ll still be me,” Zeigler said, “right back to myself once I get back in the group.”