“We form of knew from earlier than that it might have been an possibility — us enjoying St. Peter’s,” tremendous senior guard Santiago Vescovi mentioned on Sunday. “We have been form of speaking about it earlier.”
Whereas the half-brothers are each guards, they’ve completely different video games. Armoni is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound taking pictures guard. The distinction in dimension was a joking level for Zakai and his teammates after CBS introduced the matchup.
“We have been form of speaking about it earlier,” Vescovi mentioned. “I advised him I used to be like you’re going to have to protect your brother. He was like no you’ve bought him. He’s 6-5. We like it. I feel it’s going to be an important second for each of them. It’s a sport they may each get pleasure from enjoying towards one another. You don’t get to see that fairly often. His response, like all people simply began yelling within the locker room. He bought on his telephone immediately most likely with him. Very enjoyable second.”
Extra From RTI: See Tipoff Time And Broadcast Particulars For Tennessee In opposition to Saint Peter’s
It’s not the one connection that Zakai has to the Saint Peter’s program. Beneath former coach Shaheen Holloway, Saint Peter’s was one in all simply two applications to supply Zeigler a take-it or leave-it scholarship early in the summertime following his senior 12 months.
The Lengthy Island, New York native turned the Peacocks down and ended up blowing up at Peach Jam in Georgia earlier than committing to Tennessee.
Zakai Zeigler is coming off his finest collegiate season so far. After tearing his ACL late within the 2023 common season, the 5-foot-9 level guard has returned with a vengeance this season, averaging 11.9 factors and 5.8 assists per sport.
The junior didn’t miss a sport early within the season however wasn’t himself till the second half of the North Carolina sport in line with Rick Barnes. Zeigler earned First Workforce All-SEC honors in line with the SEC’s coaches after averaging 14.1 factors, seven assists and a couple of.1 assists per sport in 18 SEC video games.
After lacking the NCAA Match final season. Barnes is aware of Zeigler will probably be fired up for this 12 months’s event.
“I’m going to have to ensure he isn’t overly amped up as a result of I do know he’s gonna be excited to get on the market and go after it,” Barnes mentioned.
Zakai can have much more cause to be amped up as he faces his brother.